Central Coast News

The A-League team dropped in to the service to give out prizes and take part in outdoor games with the children.

The visit capped off the 2024 Move like a Mariner program, which teaches fundamental movement skills to children aged three to five years old.

The six-week program sees early childhood educators on the Coast provided with resources and receive professional development to increase their confidence to teach these skills in fun and engaging ways.

More than 3,400 children from 61 early childhood education and care services on the Central Coast took part in the program in 2024.

The program not only supports children to get moving like the Mariners, but also learn about healthy snacking and the importance of drinking water.

Move like a Mariner is a joint initiative between Central Coast Local Health District’s Health Promotion Service and Central Coast Mariners.

All services who take part in the program receive an equipment kit with a variety of resources including a set of balls, cones and goals. Participating children also got to take part in a march past at a Mariners men’s and women’s home game back in November.

Two lucky services received additional prizes, with The Beach Early Learning Centre Tuggerah winning a visit from two Mariners stars and its service in Kincumber winning a visit from the full men’s first team.

Emma Wildschut, director at The Beach Early Learning Centre Kincumber, said the program has been a great way to promote physical activity.

“The Move like a Mariner program has been so much fun for us,” Emma said. “Children have loved learning the different games.

“As educators, it’s been great for us to see those skills develop throughout the program, and we’ve been able to incorporate that into things we do on a daily basis, such as getting the children to hop outside, rather than just walk.

“We have then been able to recommend different activities the kids have enjoyed to their families to do at home.

“Winning the visit from the team was the icing on the cake really. The kids have been so excited to welcome the team – so much so that they were asking ‘are you from the Mariners?’ to any visitors we had during the week.

“The players were great with the kids. Me and the team joked that some of them could have a career as an early childhood educator when they retire from football.”

The Move like a Mariner program has run five times since its inception in 2018, providing sporting equipment and teaching resources to over 80% of early childhood services on the Central Coast and reaching more than 13,000 children.

The program is delivered in parallel with the NSW Health Munch & Move initiative that promotes the importance of healthy eating, physical activity, and reduced screen time for young children.

Michele Munday, health promotion officer at Central Coast Local Health District, said the program continues to go from strength to strength.

“This has been another record-setting Move like a Mariner program, with more services and children taking part than ever before,” Michele said.

“We were able to incorporate more new aspects in the program in 2024, with families receiving a Mariners matchday experience and additional video content featuring Mariners players demonstrating games and fundamental movement skills, as well as some of their favourite healthy foods.

“The player and team visits are always a great way to cap off the program. The players were so great with the children – it was amazing to see so many happy faces.”