Help your students May-Kit Happen
The lack of physical activity in children is a major contributing factor in the increase in obesity in children and adolescents. Consider these facts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
- Overweight in children and adolescents is generally caused by lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of the two, with genetics and lifestyle both playing important roles in determining a child's weight.
- Our society has become very sedentary. Television, computer and video games contribute to children's inactive lifestyles.
- 43% of adolescents watch more than two hours of television each day.
- Children, especially girls, become less active as they move through adolescence.
As an educator, you can make a significant contribution to the health of children. In the month of May we encourage you to bring the Exercise is Medicine message to your classroom and ultimately to your student’s families.
Join us in celebrating health and fitness in May, and “May-Kit Happen.” There are plenty of ways you can participate, but here a few that may be easy to do in your classroom and with your students. Tell us your story if you plan to participate in other ways.
1. Graph time spent in daily physical activity and television watching. You can do this on individual basis or divide the classroom into teams.
2. Be a role model for your students by sharing what you are doing to increase your own physical activity level.
3. Communicate your Exercise is Medicine activities to the parents of your students. Encourage them to become role models too.
4. Focus on your student’s health, not on their weight. Teach them about the health benefits of physical activity, including increases in energy and self-esteem.
5. Do a values clarification lesson. Have students brainstorm daily activities and list them in terms of importance and the benefits they provide. Then assist them in planning regular physical activity into their day.
Please submit your classroom promotion ideas to us. As appropriate, we will add them to the list for our visitors to see.
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