This past week I was asked to deliver a workshop on Exercise & Nutrition for teachers of SICCDA’s Afterschool Programmes which provide daily afterschool childcare to approximately 150 children living in the Liberties area of Dublin 8.

Their programmes provide participants with homework support, nutritious snacks and enriching extra-curricular activities in a warm, caring, child-centred environment. Camps during school holidays provide participants with fun, meaningful activities which provide continuity for children, and facilitate childcare needs.

The sixteen teachers who attended my workshop operated from the following schools;

• Scoil San Seamus CBS, Basin Lane

• St Enda’s National School, Whitefriar Street

• Francis Street CBS, Francis Street

• Warrenmount Primary School

• Scoil Treasa Naofa

It was a very positive experience engaging with the teachers over the course of the day. They found learning about the METs very interesting. All teachers took part in doing a fitness evaluation (1 mile walk) to see how their own fitness level measured up to the guidelines for prevention of disease. The sun was shining as we walked along the canal from Basin Lane to Rialto Bridge; all completing the course within 14 to18 minutes. So if you see a large group of children walking briskly along the canal over the coming weeks you’ll know teachers are measuring their METs.