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