kids and exercise-related stories
Safe Routes to School: Making walking safer for kids
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
Even if kids want to walk or bike to school, in today's world there are often obstacles. Busy schedules, stranger danger, and dangerous intersections contribute to the trend of parents dropping kids off instead of letting them walk.
Safe Routes to School, a federally funded program, tries to eliminate some of those hurdles and help kids get more activity in their day by walking to school. The program focuses on why kids aren't walking to school in the first place. They may repair sidewalks, build bike paths, involve local police, and encourage parent involvement to make the commute safer. The organization celebrates Walk to School Month each October, so it's a great time to take a
look at our own communities to see if there are improvements that we could make.
Safe Routes to School, a federally funded program, tries to eliminate some of those hurdles and help kids get more activity in their day by walking to school. The program focuses on why kids aren't walking to school in the first place. They may repair sidewalks, build bike paths, involve local police, and encourage parent involvement to make the commute safer. The organization celebrates Walk to School Month each October, so it's a great time to take a
look at our own communities to see if there are improvements that we could make.
Rethinking recess
Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
As Jacki told us last week, this week is dedicated to getting kids outside and exercising. A few years ago, there was a push to limit or eliminate recess at school, so that more time could be focused on academics. Though there are still pockets where schools still believe in that idea, thankfully, most schools are seeing the light. Recess is an excellent time for kids to get some much needed activity in the middle of the school day so that they can return refreshed and revitalized to their studies. In addition, recess contributes to the 60 minutes of exercise kids need every day.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently funded a program called Sports4Kids. Instead of a free-for-all type recess, adults engaged kids in structured physical activities and taught conflict resolution. Kids in schools who participated in the program felt more confident, safer, and were more likely to participate in active games outside than before. This program suggests that in some schools where kids are no longer exercising at recess, it might be time to reconsider how the break time is handled so that they can participate in meaningful, active play.
To learn more about Sports4Kids, check out their website.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently funded a program called Sports4Kids. Instead of a free-for-all type recess, adults engaged kids in structured physical activities and taught conflict resolution. Kids in schools who participated in the program felt more confident, safer, and were more likely to participate in active games outside than before. This program suggests that in some schools where kids are no longer exercising at recess, it might be time to reconsider how the break time is handled so that they can participate in meaningful, active play.
To learn more about Sports4Kids, check out their website.
Ten reasons why children need to exercise
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements
Do you worry about your kids getting enough exercise? I know I do. In the spring, summer, and fall it's not a problem, but in the winter I'm constantly trying to come up with ways to get them moving. Past generations of children spent so much time outside, it was hard for parents to get them in for dinner. But for a lot of different reasons -- video games, computers, safety concerns, among them -- it seems like kids are spending more and more time indoors.
It really is important that kids learn to love exercise. Not only will it help them stay healthy now and prevent gaining extra weight in childhood, it will teach them to build habits that will last them a life time. Here's a list of the top 10 reasons why kids should exercise. Exercise relieves anxiety, builds interpersonal relationships, builds confidence, improves sleep, enhances school performance, and prevents disease. Plus, it's fun!
Every reason on that list is a good one. Need some ideas? Next time your child says, "I'm boooorrrred," here's a list of 50 ways for kids to exercise. And Mayo Clinic has an excellent article for turning your little former couch potato into an exercise fan. (If your kids still need convincing, here's an article just for them.) Spring is the perfect time to teach kids to be active and to get them in shape for some summer fun.
It really is important that kids learn to love exercise. Not only will it help them stay healthy now and prevent gaining extra weight in childhood, it will teach them to build habits that will last them a life time. Here's a list of the top 10 reasons why kids should exercise. Exercise relieves anxiety, builds interpersonal relationships, builds confidence, improves sleep, enhances school performance, and prevents disease. Plus, it's fun!
Every reason on that list is a good one. Need some ideas? Next time your child says, "I'm boooorrrred," here's a list of 50 ways for kids to exercise. And Mayo Clinic has an excellent article for turning your little former couch potato into an exercise fan. (If your kids still need convincing, here's an article just for them.) Spring is the perfect time to teach kids to be active and to get them in shape for some summer fun.
