FOCUS ON FITNESS: Fit Squad instructor Tom Dalton with children in St Oliver's National School, Ballycasheen, Killarney for the Fit Squad Children's Interactive Health and Fitness session. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

By Michelle Crean

Two Killarney schools – Gaelscoil Faithleann and St Oliver's NS – recently hosted visits from Irish fitness expert Tom Dalton.

On Friday, over 240 pupils heard the message that physical fitness and healthy eating go hand-in-hand and should begin at an early age as part of the Fyffes Fit Squad campaign.

Topics covered included demonstrations of exercises young people should do, advice on healthy eating, and tips on how to use leisure time to stay physically fit.

The pupils were put through their paces in a fun and interactive way with 45 to 60 minute sessions which included a dynamic warm up and cool down and session intensity specific to their needs and ability.

The aim is to understand key elements to a movement, so it helps our bodies to carry it out Proinsias MacCurtain, Principal of Gaelscoil Faithleann, explained.

“We were delighted to welcome the Fitness Squad to our school, as fitness and healthy eating is so important, and it is really good that people adopt good habits at a young age. The exercises the children were doing with the Fit Squad were fun, and can be carried out in their own homes.”

The Parents Council had registered for the initiative some time ago and were delighted to be chosen as one of the schools, Mary Carroll of the Parents Council added.

“We were delighted to have the message of exercise, fitness and healthy eating put to the kids in a fun way – the more ways they hear it the better, as it is so important for our children’s mental and physical health.”