Drinking water is healthy and enough to prevent children from the risk of health problems. However, based on research in 13 countries published by the European Journal of Nutrition, the current condition shows that 1 in 4 children in Indonesia is still under-drinking, of which 30% consumed is not water [1]. Ideally, pre-school children (ages 4-6 years) need 1.2 liters of water per day (equivalent to 5-6 cups), while children ages 7-9 require 1.5 liters of water (6-7) glasses every day) [2].
Collaboration between both parties will be realized through education for healthy drinking, followed by educators and learners of Early Childhood Education (PAUD) from all over Indonesia. This teaching method will be implemented by PAUD institution in teaching drinking water habit to children.
Educational institutions such as PAUD have an important role to provide direction and trace of positive memory to drinking water habit before, during, and after physical activity, early on. "Currently the Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Health has launched a Healthy Indonesia Program with the pillars of Healthy Paradigm. The pillar is implemented by applying Healthy Behavior Clean and Healthy (PHBS) early on in the community ", said dr. Anung Sugihantono, M. Kes, Director General of Public Health, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia.
Danone AQUA in collaboration with the Indonesian Early Childhood Education and Education Association (HIMPAUDI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to encourage adequate drinking water habits in early childhood in Indonesia. This Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Danone Indonesia's General Secretary VP, Leila Djafaar and Chairman of HIMPAUDI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Netti Herawati, M.SI, in Jakarta today (5/10). This Memorandum of Understanding lasts for the next three years in the hope of becoming part of the national curriculum of early childhood education.
As a professional and independent organization that aims to improve the quality of early childhood in Indonesia, HIMPAUDI will invite PAUD institutions and educators to follow the selection of best teaching methods in healthy drinking education. A total of approximately 90 PAUD institutions with Train the Trainers (TOT) method conducted by 786 educators to 4,500 learners from 34 provinces in Indonesia participated in the competition for the search for teaching pattern of healthy drinking education. Drinking water teaching methods that become winners will then be used as a pilot for early childhood in Indonesia in building knowledge, skills, and attitudes of educators and early childhood related to healthy drinking habits.
"HIMPAUDI moved and started the initiative to familiarize children drinking water from an early age through the implementation of early education in PAUD institutions. This is consistent with our mission to build partnerships for the improvement of competence, qualifications, welfare, and protection and awards of PAUD educators and education personnel. We welcome Danone AQUA support in realizing the teaching method of drinking water is good for early childhood, "said Prof. Dr. Ir. Netti Herawati, M.SI.
Early education in early childhood institutions is also a strategic step and in line with the grand design that is being prepared by the government. "We as the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia continue to commit to realize the ideals of the rise of the gold generation in 2045. One of the grand design that we continue to intensify is Early Childhood Education (PAUD) to prepare the children of Indonesia who have the tenacity, character that is mature, and healthy in the future, "said Ir. Harris Iskandar, Ph.D, Director General of Early Childhood and Dikmas, Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.
The mission of HIMPAUDI as an independent organization that oversees early child educators in Indonesia is in line with Danone AQUA's mission as a Company that has a principle of giving the good of life to every individual. The One Planet value, One Health promoted by Danone will always remind people to protect and maintain the health and well-being of the planet, from an early age.
"The collaboration of HIMPAUDI and Danone AQUA is a synergistic and sustainable cooperation in raising awareness of drinking water in early childhood. We deeply appreciate HIMPAUDI which helped encourage children's habits to live healthy through this partnership where 90 PAUD institutions in Indonesia will participate in the search for teaching methods that will be implemented in all Indonesian early childhood institutions, "explained Leila Djafaar
The learning activities and healthy drinking habits which is the implementation of the program "Aku Mau Air, Aku Sehat" which includes: 1) Observations and simple measurements by educators; 2) Habituation activities in building drinking water skills in early childhood; 3) drinking water learning activities in accordance with the basic concept of early childhood education; and 4) Supporting activities