In order to expand the measures of the SMS initiative, which mainly take place within the class during regular school hours, and to raise the pupils' awareness of a balanced diet and regular exercise in their free time as well, the association Düsseldorfer Kids mit PFIFF has redesigned the SMS initiative website (www.sms-mach-mit.de) and added an interactive section, which contains recipes and exercises of the month as well as several exercise videos from Fortuna Düsseldorf. Furthermore, an additional module is currently being developed that will provide children with a nutrition quiz in the future. The aim is to tailor the interactive section specifically to the needs and interests of children and to provide them with various games, quizzes, tips and facts on the health-related topics of nutrition, exercise and relaxation techniques.
"A child- and user-friendly design and the inclusion of many image motifs should make the website features as well as the conveyed content appealing and fun. This should always be in the foreground for long-term and successful health education," said Professor Karsten Müssig, project leader of the SMS initiative.
The conception, redesign and programming of the website including the integration of the interactive section for fun and playful knowledge transfer on the topics of nutrition, exercise and relaxation were made possible by the Düsseldorf web agency PLANWERK 6, which has supported the SMS initiative since it was founded, as well as a donation from the Düsseldorf banking association.
The initiative “SMS. Be smart. Join in. Be fit." led by Professor Karsten Müssig at Düsseldorf and Neuss primary schools seeks to counteract overweight/obesity and other lifestyle-related diseases in childhood and adolescence. The SMS initiative is supported by the association Düsseldorfer Kids mit PFIFF and scientifically accompanied by the DZD partner German Diabetes Center (DDZ). The participating children receive two additional sports lessons per week and learn the basics of a balanced diet and the practical handling of food and kitchen equipment in the nutrition pilot license program. In addition, the students receive relaxation exercises and instructions on how to regulate stress within the framework of a sensory classroom.
The health insurance company IKK classic, the organization diabetesDE – German Diabetes Aid, the Sports Department of Düsseldorf, and other renowned partners and prominent people support the project and provide the participating school children with additional attractive venues for learning outside of school. The patron of the initiative is Thomas Geisel, mayor of the state capital Düsseldorf. The SMS initiative was awarded the support logo of IN FORM, Germany’s initiative to promote healthy diets and physical activity, and the GUT DRAUF label of the German Center for Health Education (BZgA) and was accepted as an exemplary project and member of the state initiative "Healthy North Rhine-Westphalia".
For more information, see: www.sms-mach-mit.de