“I think over the past year-and-a-half, every parent across Ireland has seen just how important healthy habits are.”
Johnny Sexton might be the the captain of Ireland, and Leinster, Rugby, but he is also a dad of three young children. And so when it comes to establishing healthy habits – and helping children do so too – he admits to feeling very passionate about it, not just on a professional level, but also on a deeply personal one too.
“Having just lived through the pandemic and lockdowns, I think we all really got a crash course in just how important it is to keep active and look after our health, both physical and mental,” Sexton explains.
“I really noticed it with my own children, during the lockdowns. How, on the days we manged to go to a park or for a walk or even just out on their scooters around the neighbourhood, the difference it made. They were happier, calmer and had more energy. And the knock-on effect was that they also slept better, ate better and we were all just in better form. It really just brought it home to me just how important healthy habits are, not just for adults, but maybe especially so for children. And how important it is that we help them build these habits and encourage them.”
For the past few years, Sexton has been involved with Laya Healthcare Super Troopers – Ireland’s only ‘Health Homework’ programme which sets out to help children and families across the country live a healthier and more active lifestyle.
“Obviously, as an athlete, I am passionate about promoting exercise and the importance if keeping physically fit,” he explains.
“But what I really can get behind and love about the Laya Super Troopers programme, is that it puts such a major focus on mental health and wellbeing too, and I really just think it is amazing to see children learning about mindfulness and how to look after their mental health at such a young age. You know, when I was growing up, the term health really just referred to your physical form, nobody really talked much about the importance and benefit of putting effort into your mental health as well as your physical one. And I can just see the difference it is making to children today, being made aware of this and learning these tools to help them, not just now, but throughout their lives.”
Laya Super Troopers TV
Since its start in 2014, more than one million school children across Ireland has taken part in Laya Super Troopers, and Sexton admits he is proud to be an ambassador for the programme, which this year also sees the launch of Laya’s Super Troopers TV, a 28-part online series on nutrition, physical activity, and mental wellbeing.
The rugby star features on the show alongside well-known personalities, sportspeople and health and wellness experts, where they share fun activities, advice, and lots of challenges for children, parents and teachers to try themselves.
“I love how this show and programme is child-led,” Sexton explains.
“It makes it so much fun and so relatable to other children. School-kids from 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th classes are actually hosting the Laya Super Troopers TV, and they are doing such an excellent job. I just love how it really is for everyone, every child, every family will find something they relate to or something they want to take part in or try.”
Sextons explains the show has a really holistic approach, and is looking at both physical health, mental wellbeing and nutrition.
“It really helps give both children and also their families the tools to work with when it comes to all of these.”
Families and school classes can also submit their own Laya Super Troopers TV content via the website – a fun and interactive way to stay motivated, Sexton says.
“Kids and adults or teachers can take part in challenges and then subit the videos of them doing so, it really is so easy to do, and it will no doubt appeal to children of the TikTok generation.”
The series premiere comes as a national research study by Laya examining the overall health and wellbeing of children aged 9 to 12 found nearly 70 percent of children experience anxiety, while just four in 10 children are getting adequate levels of exercise every day.
“As a dad myself, I see firsthand how important healthy habits are when it comes to children, and I feel so passionate about being able to support children and parents in helping to create these healthy habits in their own homes and for themselves,” Sextons says.
“Research shows is that so many habits are formed when we are young, and I think it is so important to introduce these habits, both when it comes to food and nutrition, physical exercise and mental wellbeing, in a way that appeal to kids. And the Laya Super Troopers programme does just that.”
Health Homework
The Laya Super Troopers programme is Ireland’s only ‘health homework’ programme – an easy addition to the homework routine, and sets out to normalise healthy habits among children and families with the approach ‘do a little bit every day, week.’ The programme is designed to be used in schools and also by families at home.
And the best bit? It really works. According to research by by Prof. Hevey in Trinity College, a whopping 93 percent of parents say their children were more active after taking part in the programme, with 75 percent of parents saying their child opened up more about their feelings, one in four children eat more healthily and one in four say it improved their child’s stress management.
And everyone can get involved.
Just go to layasupertroopers.ie to take part – watch Laya Super Troopers TV, find lots of fun activities to keep you entertained (and healthy!) and share your own videos as you attempt the challenges.
