Back to school campaign: Eat smart, drink water, sleep well, move more and less screen time.
PHILIPSBURG–A new back-to-school campaign is urging children and families in St Maarten to eat smart, drink water, sleep well, move more and spend less time on screens, based on findings from the St. Maarten Child Monitor 2025.
Collective Prevention Services (CPS), the Department of Sport, the Division of Public Education and Stichting EGO have launched an awareness campaign to encourage healthier daily habits among children and families.
The five themes are Eat Smart, Drink Water, Sleep Well, Move More and Less Screen Time.
The campaign is based on Child Monitor findings identifying opportunities to improve nutrition, physical activity, sleep and overall well-being among primary school children.
It also highlights the connection between healthy lifestyles and concentration, energy levels, behaviour and school performance.
“Our goal is to turn Child Monitor findings into practical actions families can use every day,” the collaborating organisations stated.
The campaign will begin with a short awareness video and the first of five posters. Each theme will then be introduced individually over the coming months through posters, flyers, social media, schools and community outreach activities.
Campaign materials will be distributed to schools, daycare centres, healthcare providers and other community locations across St. Maarten. Partner organisations will also share the messages with parents and caregivers through their communication channels.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to use local data to strengthen preventive health programmes and create healthier school and community environments for children.
Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs said improving children’s health requires participation from across the community. “Promoting the health and well-being of our children is a shared responsibility,” Gumbs said.
Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Claret Connor said healthy habits developed during childhood can provide a foundation for lifelong health.
She said encouraging children to eat well, drink water, stay active and get enough sleep supports their well-being while helping prevent health problems in the future.
