How does the SAM app extend healthy habits beyond school hours?

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The SAM App Extends Healthy Habits Beyond School Hours Through Daily Recording and Parental Involvement

The Sihat, Aktif Manirian (SAM) application is designed to foster healthy living habits among pupils by encouraging them to record their daily intake of plain water, healthy food, and physical activity duration. This process extends these practices beyond the school environment by requiring pupils to update their records at home, often with the assistance of their parents, thereby integrating healthy choices into their daily routine. Parental engagement is a critical component, as children frequently use their parents' smartphones to access the app, and parents are encouraged to monitor these records and provide healthier meal options at home.
Daily Habit Tracking and Recording

Pupils utilize the SAM application to log their daily consumption of plain water and healthy foods, alongside the time spent engaging in physical activities. This daily recording mechanism serves to make pupils conscious of their lifestyle choices. The application was developed using Canva Code and is currently used internally by the school, involving approximately 300 Year Four, Five, and Six pupils.
Gamification to Encourage Participation

To motivate pupils, the SAM app incorporates gamification elements such as badges for achieving specific targets, including 'Water King', 'Nutrition King', and 'Active Hero'. This approach aims to make the adoption of healthy lifestyle practices enjoyable and sustainable, encouraging pupils to integrate them into their daily routines through a sense of achievement and friendly competition.
Parental Involvement and Home Reinforcement

Parental involvement is considered crucial for the SAM app's success, as many pupils use their parents' smartphones to access the application. Parents play a role in monitoring their children's recorded habits and are instrumental in providing healthier meals at home, thereby reinforcing the healthy lifestyle messages promoted by the school. Feedback from parents indicates a positive impact, with children showing increased consumption of plain water, reduced intake of sugary drinks, and a greater inclination towards healthier food choices.
Observed Positive Outcomes

The implementation of the SAM application has been linked to observable improvements in pupils' physical fitness, healthier food and drink preferences, and increased participation in sports. These changes have contributed to better sporting achievements, including gold and bronze medals in athletics events, and enhanced performances by the school's football and handball teams, suggesting a direct correlation between the app's promotion of healthy living and improved physical capabilities.

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How does the SAM app extend healthy habits beyond school hours?

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