Fitness four youth

Facts on Kid's Healthchocolate or candy).
1.The average child gets less than 15 minutes ofHalloween
vigorous activity a day.Parents who are concerned about the amount of
2.The average U.S. child gets approximately 43candy their children receive on Halloween might try
minutes of moderate physical activity a day.this alternative. Design a flyer suggesting that families
3.The average U.S. child spends 20% of his/herhand out alternatives to candy. This flyer could be
waking time watching TV.distributed in the neighborhood or an article could
4.Obesity and superobesity are up 36% and 98%,appear in the local newspaper. Some suggestions for
respectively, in the past 20 years.alternatives are:
5.The average child consumes at least 20 ounces ofcrayons
soda pop a day.line puzzles
6.The child of today is less fit and more fat than thepencils
child of the 60's.cut outs
7.Thirty-six percent of the children get daily physicalmarbles
education; 36% get two or fewer days.raisins
8.Nine out of ten parents think their children are fit,crossword puzzles
when only one out of three are.balls
9.At age 10, 45% of young people say theysugarless gum
participate, or intend to participate, on a non-schoolerasers
team. Among 18-year-olds, the figure is 26%.paintbrushes
10.Thirty percent of youths (10-19 years) havetoothbrushes
negative or neutral attitudes towards physical activity.gift certificates
11.In a typical physical education class, only 27% ofpeanuts
actual physical education time is devoted to motorword puzzles
activity.Participating parents could place their garbage pail on
12.The average heart rates in a typical 30-minutethe front lawn as a sign that they offer an
physical education class range between 90 and 129alternative to "garbage," letting the children would
beats per minute.then know to which houses they should go.
13.The older girls get, the less likely they are to workMother's Day and Father's Day
out.Provide Mom or Dad with a list of clues as to where
14.Grade school students are 24% more active thanto find their gift. Actually, the gift will be at a
high schoolers.neighbor’s home, and Mom or Dad will
15.Asian and Hispanic girls are notably less active thanhave to walk one or two miles before they can
girls of other backgrounds, includingreceive it. Clues may be hidden all over the
African-Americans, Whites and girls of mixed heritage.neighborhood and the whole family will want to
16.Children exercise less as they get older, boysaccompany Mom or Dad on their hunt. Examples:
about 3% less each year; girls, 7.5%.1. Your next clue can be found where you meet the
18.The two biggest reasons kids participate in sport7:05 bus (bus stop near home).
and exercise are fun and socialization.2. Your next clue can be found beside the neighbor's
19.About 42% of middle school students considerhound (beside the neighbor's dog house).
themselves more fit than their peers. Sixteen percentTelevision Time
rate themselves as not as good.If you are concerned about the amount of time your
20.Thirty-six percent of middle school students saychildren watch television, try the following formula for
that they think that kids who exercise do better inlimiting their TV time. Tell your children that time for
school, about one-third are not sure, and 28%watching TV must be earned. Here are a couple of
disagree.sample rules you could establish:
21.Fifty-four percent of students claim that their1 hour of reading or studying = 1/2 hour TV
physical education class is very important to them.1 hour of active play = 1/2 hour TV
22.About 50% of all students report that physicalYou may want to keep a tally sheet for each child,
education class time should be increased in the middlebut be careful not to make other activities appear to
school.be punishment. Instead, explain that there are a lot
Family Exercise Ideasof fun things to do besides watching television that
Birthday Walkyou would like them to enjoy.
Children love to do things with their parents. WhatValentine's Day
better way, then, to celebrate your child's birthdayEveryone associates the heart with Valentine's Day.
than to go for a walk together! You may wish to tryHow about doing something that will strengthen the
the following:heart and improve cardiovascular fitness? Challenge
1. When your child is one year old, walk one kilometeryour family to a "hearty" Valentine's Day. Between 8
(.624 miles) together. You may have to push youra.m. and 8 p.m., family members should try to obtain
child in a stroller. If he or she can walk, you mightas many heart points as possible. Select a Saturday
have to do one-quarter kilometer in the morning,or Sunday close to Valentine's Day, or disallow
one-quarter kilometer at noon, one-quarter kilometeractivity during Mom and Dad's working hours.
before dinner and one-quarter kilometer in themultiply the total score by 1
evening.The winner at the end of the day receives a token
2. When your child is two years old, walk twoprize such as new shoelaces for their running shoes.
kilometers together. Again, you may not want to goParental Support of Child's Physical Education Program
the entire two kilometers all at once.How do you know if your school is doing a good job
3. When the child is three years old, walk threeteaching physical education? Ask yourself these
kilometers together.questions to see how it shapes up.
4. Continue until your child is five or even until theDoes your school provide at least one period per day
age of 21.of vigorous exercise (heart rates above 160 beats
In order to add some fun to the walk, bring a ballper minute) that lasts at least 20 minutes?
along and either kick or throw it. If you live in a coldDoes your school offer at least 75% of physical
climate, a nearby shopping mall is a great location foreducation instruction in lifetime activities such as
winter walking.walking, running, swimming, bicycling, aerobics, tennis,
Christmasbadminton, skiing, weight training, stretching and the
Make a rule that there should be a small notehow and why of fitness?
attached to every gift given. This note should beDoes your school provide tests to determine children
read before the gift is opened. The note will describewho are unfit - lack flexibility, strength and
an exercise that must be done by the person forcardiovascular endurance? The testing should take up
whom the gift is intended. The exercises cannot beno more than one week of the school year.
too difficult, although they may be unusual. ForDoes your school provide physical activity
example: Gift for Dad, "Do five sit-ups with hands inopportunities for the obese, unfit and unskilled?
pockets." Gift for Mom, "Lift Junior off the groundDoes your school provide physical education
five times."programs for the mentally and physically
Easterhandicapped?
Organize an Easter Egg Hunt for several families inDoes your school have a prescribed source of study
the neighborhood. Color the eggs first and numberfor physical education that the teachers are required
them from one to 100. Use as many eggs as youto follow? Is their delivery monitored?
like, but we suggest two for every child. Do notDoes your school's physical education program
allow the children to see where the eggs are beingemphasize fun, participation and relevance (fitness
hidden. Hide the eggs in a large field, playground orand motor skills), rather than sport skill development
school yard. Once the eggs are hidden, the childrenand competition?
are brought to a starting line. On the signal, theyDoes your school put physical education first and
search the field for eggs. Once they find an egg theyathletics second?
return it to the designated area where their nameDo your physical education teachers look fit and
and the number of the egg is recorded. Once a childparticipate in personal fitness programs?
finds two eggs, that child can help the other childrenDo your children enjoy, speak highly of and look
find their eggs until everyone has found two offorward to physical education?
them.Does your school not threaten to drop physical
Once all the eggs are found, you may want to giveeducation when budget cuts are considered?
the children prizes such as coloring books, crayons,Does your school integrate physical education
balloons, Frisbees®, puzzles or comic books (noconcepts with classroom concepts?