| More than five years ago, the Center for Disease | | | | participate. |
| Control (CDC) published Guidelines for School and | | | | Health education classes should help students develop |
| Community Programs to promote physical activity in | | | | knowledge and skills to encourage and enhance |
| children and teenagers, in hopes of helping them | | | | proper diet and exercise programs. These programs |
| develop lifelong exercise and physical fitness | | | | should foster an appropriate attitude so that all |
| regimens. | | | | children WANT to live a healthy life style. |
| If you, as a parent, understand and embrace these | | | | Programs should stress moderation in all activities so |
| guidelines, you can work with your school system | | | | that children see exercise as one of the things they |
| and with community centers and programs, like the | | | | will do every day, in addition to the other activities |
| YMCA and the Boy Scouts, to encourage and even | | | | they love, e.g. computer or video games, or watching |
| help to develop physical activity and exercise | | | | TV or movies. |
| programs that support your goals. | | | | All coaches, teachers, health education staff, and |
| If your child is obese, slightly overweight or simply in | | | | recreation directors should have appropriate training |
| danger of falling into the great, black pit of video | | | | to manage and promote this physical education and |
| gaming, you need to get them off the couch, out | | | | exercise programs and to ensure that the children |
| from in front of the computer or video game station, | | | | under their supervision safely participate in these |
| and out into the fresh air to get some exercise. | | | | programs. |
| Without exercise, diet is much less successful. | | | | Safe, supervised access to facilities and equipment is |
| Although your child may balk at physical activities at | | | | critical! |
| first, they will eventually find that they feel better, | | | | Unstructured play time is important during school and |
| sleep better and function better when they exercise. | | | | after school, with tools and equipment to encourage |
| Take a look at some of the CDC guidelines and look | | | | impromptu games, e.g. balls, bats, jump ropes, |
| for ways to get your child more involved in exercise, | | | | gymnastics equipment. |
| and/or to get YOURSELF more involved in the | | | | Parents and teachers should come together to |
| development of these programs in your schools and | | | | discuss the availability of school and community |
| community. | | | | exercise and physical education programs. |
| The CDC encourages schools and community | | | | Parents should be encouraged to take on exercise |
| organizations alike to establish policies and guidelines | | | | and physical activities and to share these with their |
| that encourage physical activity that is enjoyable and | | | | children as appropriate; to become role models for |
| that is suitable for all age groups, so that exercise | | | | their kids by exercising and participating in physical |
| becomes a lifelong activity. | | | | activities during family events, at work functions, |
| Schools MUST require physical education credits and | | | | while visiting the park, etc. |
| provide detailed health education and courses to | | | | All school and community programs should be |
| teach children proper nutritional habits and to show | | | | evaluated periodically. |
| them the right way to exercise so that they are not | | | | This evaluation should be detailed enough to ensure |
| injured in the process. | | | | that the needs of the children in the community are |
| Schools will find and implement physical education and | | | | being met. |
| exercise programs that encourage physical activity | | | | Does each child have more than one option and |
| and offer enjoyable options. Activities like dance, | | | | opportunity for exercise and health education in |
| gymnastics, sports and other options should be | | | | multiple venues and facilities? |
| offered with supervised coaching to avoid injury. Not | | | | Now that you understand the CDC |
| all activities should be competitive! | | | | recommendations, take a look at your own school |
| Activities should be sequential, advancing in | | | | system and at the extracurricular, and community |
| complexity and challenge as the child ages to allow | | | | availability of physical activities, sports and exercise |
| them to achieve physical potential. | | | | options. |
| At minimum, National Physical Fitness standards should | | | | If your community is lagging behind in these |
| be met. | | | | programs, get actively involved. Your attendance and |
| Both schools and community organizations must | | | | presentation at a town board meeting can get |
| provide funding and adequate supervision and | | | | organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, and the |
| guidance for physical activities, sports, and exercise | | | | YMCA into your community. |
| equipment. | | | | And you can talk to your school board and PTA or |
| These activities and equipment choices must provide | | | | PTO about the shortcomings in your physical |
| a broad range of options to satisfy the interests of | | | | education and health programs, and how your school |
| all the children in the community, and school system. | | | | system may be able to improve their current |
| Community and school programs should include | | | | programs. |
| activities that are appropriate for children of all ages | | | | You will find it much easier to help your child meet |
| and all levels of ability. | | | | their weight loss or fitness goals when you have |
| These programs should be advertised and promoted | | | | community and school system support. |
| to children to advise them of the availability and the | | | | For your overweight, obese or inactive child, this |
| programs should be desirable and enjoyable for the | | | | support and assistance is priceless! |
| age group and type of children who are expected to | | | | |