Fitness is Fun!
August 2006

Fun Exercise for the Whole Family
Working out with your kids is a great way to stay in shape. Fitness expert and author of “Celebrity Fitness” and “Real World Fitness with Kathy Kaehler” shares fun ways families can exercise together. Walking as a family after dinner is a wonderful way to exercise and a great way to spend time together. Kaehler explains how children and parents can both get exercise at a park. She suggests starting with a walk around the park. Wear a pedometer to keep track of your steps, aiming for 5,000 steps. Along the way, make stops for push-ups and other caliistenics in the grass. At the playground there are many fitness challenges. She suggested playing “follow the leader,” incorporating moves such as jumping jacks, hopscotch, leapfrog, high kicks and sprints. Families can also play sports such as Frisbee tag, softball, football, or tennis. Friendly family competiton is always motivating. For more family fitness tips visit http://msnbc.com/modules/fitlist/default.asp?date_url=060517.

Nation’s Public Schools’ Wellness Policy in Effect Fall
Because of the nation’s increasing childhood obesity rate the government requires all the nations’ public schools to adopt a wellness policy for fall. A wellness policy is a plan of action schools must take to help their students become healthier. Many schools are getting rid of sugary snacks from vending machines and filling them with water, fruit juice and milk. Hampton, New Hampshire has a five-page plan, so detailed it suggested elementary school children have “at least two colors other than white and brown as part of their lunch meal.”
Schools are also encouraging their students to be more physically active during the day. Northwestern, Minnesota superintendent Tamara Uselman said her district is incorporating more movement into the school day. Teachers are setting up stations in classrooms so students can move every 20 minutes. For more information visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13845497/from/ET/.

Curriculum Teaches Children the importance of maintaining a healthy heart
HeartPower! Online is the American Heart Association’s curriculum-based program that teaches children about the heart and how to keep it healthy for a lifetime. HeartPower! uses four key messages about heart health that have been sorted by curriculum, grade level, lifestyle message and type of material. Lesson plans include subjects on maintaining a healthy heart, the importance of good nutrition, physical activity and staying tobacco-free. To learn more about HeartPower! Online visit http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3003357.

Dance your way to Fitness
Instead of going to the gym, some adults are deciding to ballroom dance for exercise. Experts say sticking to an exercise plan is easier when it’s not a chore. Ballroom dancing is helping change the way people see exercise, especially for older Americans. Ken Richards, the spokesman of USA’s Dance, explained, “Depending on the step, ballroom dancing can burn anywhere from 250 calories to 400 calories an hour-about the same as a brisk half-hour walk on a treadmill. More demanding dances like the salsa, samba and cha-cha can be comparable to an intense session at the gym.” Ballroom dancing also works muscles in different parts of the body and sharpens balance and coordination. Memorizing steps, kicks and twirls also challenges the mind — a critical benefit for older Americans. For more information visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13998742/from/ET/.

Gym Designed for Children teaches more than exercise
Fitwize 4 Kids is a gym specifically designed for children ages 6-15. It was created to help address the rising epidemic of childhood obesity and Type II diabetes, as well as increasing need for children’s sports strength training. Fitwize focuses on a supervised 45 minute, full-body circuit style workout on weight machines that are designed for children. Along with circuit workouts, Fitwize also holds monthly nutrition seminars, home-school physical education, kid’s night out events, field trips, and birthday parties. Fitwize for kids is located in 12 states. To find learn more about Fitwize 4 Kids visit http://www.fitwize4kids.com/.

Have you or someone else motivated a group of children or adults to lead a healthier life? Email us your story at Preschal@indiana.edu and it could be featured in next month’s newsletter!

Fitness Question of the Month for July

U.S. Obesity rate is rapidly increasing. What do you think causes children today to be less fit compared to when you were a child? What can we, as Americans do about the growing epidemic?

The standard response to why young people are less active than they used to be probably revolves around the amount of time children spend watching television, playing video games, and more recently surfing the Internet. If the parent is working all day, the children are quite possibly at home entertaining themselves.

~Matthew

We felt safe playing in the neighborhood and surrounding community when I was a child. Today parents can set aside time to be active with their children and supervise their children playing with other children. Schools and communities can organize more intramural sports so that all people can be active for life, have fun, and socialize

~Vicki

I think the one thing that could positively change children is modeling by the parents and caregivers. Parents who eat well and are active themselves are likely to have children who will model that behavior. Taking time to prepare healthy meals and taking time to be active with your kids is a great way to encourage healthy lifestyles.

~Kim

I think the growing obesity problem stems from the fact that we live in a different world. When I was a child, I was allowed to run around the block to play with my friend. Now, parents are afraid to let their kids even run around the block alone. TV and videogames are also very popular and it's a quick solution to a "bored" child. (Not the right solution, though!)

~Tricia

When I told families this summer that I would be taking a break from all electronic toys and encouraging children to play board games and be active outdoors with more traditional games like hop scotch and hula hoops, I had a strong positive response. It's been harder to do, and the kids miss what they were used to, but I am seeing positive changes in attitudes and choices that I hope will continue into the school year.

~JoAnne

Fitness Question of the Month for August:

What is an alternative, fun way you choose to exercise when not able to go to the gym?
Please respond via E-mail to The President's Challenge at preschal@indiana.edu We'll include the most insightful responses in the August issue of Fitness is Fun.

Remember to fill out State Champion, Model School, and Demonstration Center applications to ensure that your students are rewarded for their hard work! For more information, including application deadlines and guidelines, please visit http://www.presidentschallenge.org/educators/school_recognition.aspx.