Finn, Fine, and many other children join in: Cast off for a healthy start in life!

Their names are Finn and Fine, two little pirate children, sailing from adventure to adventure on their boat and becoming increasingly fitter when it comes to their health. Whether it's exercise, nutrition, or healthy leisure activities: Thanks to Finn and Fine, these topics are transformed into exciting stories!

The two pirate children can be used for educational purposes – as hand puppets, but also as characters in stories to read aloud and to read independently.

Finn and Fine are part of a program that has had a lasting impact on the health of thousands of children in Baden-Württemberg since 2009. The "Join the Healthy Boat" project at the University of Ulm, funded by the Baden-Württemberg Foundation, aims to give children between the ages of 0 and 10 a healthy start in life.

In crèches, kindergartens, primary schools and special education and counseling centers, exercise, nutrition and mindfulness are playfully integrated into everyday life.

Sustainable anchoring of healthy behavior in children's everyday lives

Health-related attitudes and behaviors develop early and then shape their entire lives. This is precisely where the program comes in: Educational professionals and teachers are specifically supported to sustainably embed healthy behavior in children's everyday lives.

The goal is to inspire children to adopt a healthy lifestyle at an early age—physically, mentally, and emotionally. At the same time, the program promotes the psychosocial health of the teachers and staff themselves.

The focus is on everyday topics: exercise and active leisure activities, healthy eating and drinking habits, reducing screen time, and relaxation and mindfulness. The situation-based approach reaches children directly in their everyday lives—where they learn and play every day.

Its effectiveness is scientifically proven: Studies show that the program leads to more exercise, less screen time, and fewer health problems. This leads to fewer absences – for both children and parents.

Online training for multipliers

A core element of the program are the multipliers: Educators and teachers are trained in online training courses and integrate the content into their everyday teaching using tried-and-tested materials. Parents are actively involved – through family tasks, multilingual materials, and online parent evenings with practical suggestions.

"The parent-teacher evenings are often very well attended," reported project leader Professor Susanne Kobel at the Charity Awards ceremony on Tuesday evening in Berlin. "Parents often lack the resources and ideas," said Kobel, "but if you give them some small ideas, they see that healthy behavior can also work in their families."

In addition to the full-time staff, volunteers actively support the program, for example with breakfast, exercise programs, or the natural design of outdoor areas.

The program also focuses on educational professionals and teachers themselves. Significantly more people in this field suffer from physical, but especially psychological, stress than in many other professional groups.

To support and prevent these problems, "Join the Healthy Boat" offers training courses on the topic of "My Healthy (Working) Everyday Life." These courses provide practical exercises and materials to help employees better cope with psychosocial and physical workloads.

The healthy boat always remains in motion

Ulm University conducts regular evaluations to ensure the program remains effective and is continuously developed. This ensures that the healthy boat itself remains in constant motion – for a generation that knows that health is the most precious treasure.

And then there are Finn and Fine: These charming pirate children turn health topics into exciting stories for children ages three to ten. On the boat, many questions about health are asked – and expertly answered.

Project manager Susanne Kobel proudly announced at the awards ceremony in Berlin that the project can now be rolled out nationwide beyond Baden-Württemberg this month. (fuh)