Posts Tagged ‘Physical Activity’

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Fueling Student Success with Food and Fitness

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Brain breaks for better focus and concentration…

Healthy eating messages sprinkled throughout the school hallways, cafeteria, and classrooms…

Nutrition education woven into PE and core curriculum K-12…

Where is this happening? Check out West Orange, New Jersey school district!

“Teaching our students to maintain a healthy balance with eating and exercise is our top priority. The SPARK program is helping provide the tools and training to achieve this goal”, shared Corinn Giaquinto, Health and Physical Education instructor, Thomas Edison Middle School, West Orange, New Jersey.

Hats off to Thomas A. Edison Middle School and their entire school district in West Orange. The district has been using SPARK in their physical education department for some time and recently received a grant from Mountainside Health Foundation to fuel student success by adding nutrition education.

Vickie L. James, Registered Dietitian and Director of Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC), the exclusive nutrition education partner for SPARK, was the trainer for the West Orange training, the first ever SPARK and HKC nutrition education training.

“From classroom to PE to wellness council members K-12, the representation and enthusiasm shown at the workshop tells me the commitment this district has to student wellbeing. They truly understand the strategy of using good nutrition and physical activity to create a culture of health in the schools that can do nothing short of fueling student success. This was the first of many great moments down the road for West Orange Schools.”

If your school district is ready to accelerate student achievement by combining physical activity and nutrition education, contact SPARK today. Full day SPARK/HKC nutrition education trainings as well as a new nutrition curriculum in three grade ranges, K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 all are available through SPARK.  Healthy Kids Challenge trainings are tailored to meet school needs for successful implementation of realistic wellness policies, school improvement plans, and TEAM Nutrition guidelines. And SPARK/HKC help you achieve the required criteria for the HealthierUS School Challenge program.

The HKC curriculum, Balance My Day, was developed to align with all HECAT (Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool) standards for nutrition education. This is a new requirement for PEP grant awardees and you won’t find many nutrition education programs that address it.

Stay tuned for exciting happenings and updates from West Orange schools! SPARK and HKC wish them well in their commitment to student health!

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Posted in Child Obesity, PE, PEP Grant, Physical Activity, Physical Education, Physical Education News, SPARK, SPARK Blog | Comments Off

Schools Add Skateboarding to Kids Classes

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Not too long ago, schools and city councils across the United States were at odds with skateboarders. We’ve all seen the signs banning skateboarding from school and public premises: “Absolutely No Skateboarding,” “No Skateboarding, Biking or Rollerblading Allowed,” etc. Some places, such as Center City Philadelphia, have gone so far as to ban skateboarding from all public property, including sidewalks! Yet skateboarding has still remained a very popular sport amongst children and young adults. And recently, many schools have actually introduced skateboarding to their Physical Education curriculum.

Schools Add Skateboarding to Kids Classes
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Schools across the United States are revamping their P.E. curriculum and exchanging traditional competitive team sports for more alternative and individualized sports such as skateboarding. Advocates for the new P.E. claim that sports such as skateboarding appeal to children who aren’t natural athletes and who don’t enjoy traditional competitive, full-contact sports, for instance, soccer and football. One statistic found that as few as 10% of school-aged children are natural athletes who enjoy competitive contact sports. Advocates claim that exposing these children to a sport like skateboarding promotes a more active lifestyle inside and outside of the classroom. Children who aren’t interested in competitive sports are more likely to go home and participate in a more individualized activity, like skateboarding, once they have been exposed to it in school.

There is a huge push for schools to promote active lifestyles in young children because child obesity is still a very serious concern in the United States. The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia reports that almost 20% of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are considered obese. In addition, the overall child obesity rate has tripled over the last thirty years. A healthy lifestyle includes not only healthy eating habits but also regular physical activity. Because of the child obesity epidemic, many schools have introduced health classes that stress good eating habits. Children must also be taught how to integrate exercise into their daily routine. Therefore it is essential that children are introduced to a variety of sports—skateboarding included—at an early age in order to find sports that appeal most to them.

Schools Add Skateboarding to Kids Classes
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This new P.E. program has been introduced to a variety of schools across the country, including schools in New Jersey, New York, California and Minnesota. It has been met with rave reviews by both P.E. instructors and students. Skateboarding has been a particularly successful part of the new program. Teachers who are in their twenties and thirties most likely grew up with skateboarding and so the program is just as exciting for young teachers as it is for students.

Most importantly, skateboarding is a great way to exercise and have fun at the same time. It has been proven to increase balance, agility, coordination, and reaction time. It specifically targets the leg muscles and core muscles. More advanced skaters who are able to perform tricks and grabs also use their arm and back muscles. Skateboarding for twenty to thirty minutes is a great form of cardiovascular activity that increases the heart rate while burning calories and developing muscle. Perhaps one of the best side effects of skateboarding that teachers have noted is improved self-esteem in children as they get better and better. Beginning students, who could barely stand on a skateboard on day one, are skating laps around the gymnasium by the end of the program. In the process of learning to skateboard, students learn that hard work and perseverance pay off.

Schools Add Skateboarding to Kids Classes

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One of the main drawbacks to introducing a skateboarding program to a school is the cost. Many schools have been faced with tough budgets over the last few years. And unfortunately, safely learning how to skateboard requires quite a bit of equipment: skateboards, helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads. Skate Pass, a Colorado-based company, offers skateboarding “curriculum kits” for approximately $3,000 which include enough equipment for twenty children.  The kit includes skateboards that are specifically designed with young children in mind, and wheels that won’t mark up gymnasium floors. They also provide specific curriculums for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. Schools that have found money in their budgets and implemented a skateboarding curriculum of some kind have found that students’ reactions are incredibly positive.

Once viewed as a troublesome and meaningless activity, skateboarding is now being recognized as an engaging form of physical activity for children. It is an effective form of exercise and builds self-esteem in school-aged children. P.E. teachers are recognizing that competitive full-contact sports don’t appeal to everyone, and they are beginning to introduce alternative programs that promote individuality. Although the cost of implementing a skateboarding program is quite high, the results seem to outweigh the financial burden. Students are more engaged in physical activity, and they learn that exercise can be fun.

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Empty Junk Food Calories: Half of Your Kid’s Diet?

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

Many of you may already know what the experts recently revealed; kids these days are getting an exorbitant amount of their daily calories and nutrition (or lack thereof) from junk food, desserts, and an unlikely culprit: whole milk.

We all know that kids eat more junk food than they should, but we’ve always been told that their ability to metabolize at a faster rate made that completely acceptable. Recent findings claim that junk food makes up approximately 40% of the average kids’ diet. Perhaps this statistic will shine some much needed light on the matter at hand.

According to researchers behind the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, children between the ages of 2-18 are getting about 40% of their calories from just six different foods:

  • Soda
  • Sugary fruit drinks
  • Grain desserts: cookies, cakes, donuts
  • Dairy desserts: ice cream, milkshakes
  • Pizza
  • Whole Milk

Two of these items are in the dessert category, and three others are junk food snacks. It’s a wonder that kids in the age bracket of 2-18 even have access to that much junk food. The most surprising item to make the “naughty” list is whole milk. Many parents feel that this provides a hearty serving of Vitamin D, Calcium, and other necessary nutrients. What they do not realize is that when moderation is not enforced, the high fat calories are no longer offset by the benefits of these nutrients. While a small serving of whole milk can be beneficial, most situations call for its skinnier sibling, skim milk.

Specialists across the country have weighed in on the causes of these startling statistics over the last few weeks. The majority of nutritionists and dieticians have come to a few similar conclusions.

Everyone is a role model, and we aren’t doing a very good job.

Empty Junk Food Calories: Half of Your Kid’s Diet?

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Parents, teachers, celebrities and food companies are all responsible for the dire state of our youth. While legislation now regulates many schools’ vending machine products, parents, teachers, and coaches can be doing much more. Creating a meal out of microwavable pizza doesn’t set a good example for kids. Children look to adults for guidance, and they tend to form habits that only get worse during the freedom of their impressionable teen years.

Kids just need to get up and move!

Empty Junk Food Calories: Half of Your Kid’s Diet?

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If 40% of the older generation’s caloric intake as kids was made up of these empty calories, our bodies would not have noticed nearly as much as today’s kids’ bodies do. Those were the days of walking to school and playing outside until dark. Nowadays, many children do not even get the minimum recommended activity per day – and that’s only an hour. While we cannot explicitly blame video games and television for obesity, they are definitely culprits for their lack of activity.

It’s not just calories that matter – it’s the type of calories.

Empty Junk Food Calories: Half of Your Kid’s Diet?

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For decades, people of all ages, shapes, and sizes have fallen victim to fad diets, misconstrued healthy options, and excessive portion sizes. One issue is that people think that the only thing to avoid is excess calories, and in some cases, that might help you lose weight. Although eating only pizza, soda, and ice cream in a day may fall within your daily caloric need, the nutritional value is completely absent. People forget that eating right is not supposed to be about being skinny or looking good; it should be about being healthy and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Many sources cite teenagers’ addiction to cheap, flavorful, and satisfying junk food as a main culprit. Others claim that mere negligence by parents and school officials is to blame. Either way, these startling statistics paint a very grim future for our youngest generation. Find ways to feed your children nutritious calories, lead by example, and get up and move!

For more information on SPARK’s Nutrition Education program (and our exclusive nutrition partner Healthy Kids Challenge), please Click Here.

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Posted in Child Obesity, children's health | View Comments

Exercise: The Path to a Child’s Healthy Future

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

The obesity epidemic among youth today only continues to escalate. Due to the increase in modern technology, more forms of entertainment involve sitting rather than moving.  Children are exposed to more computers, video games, movies and television than ever before, which in turn decreases the overall time spent expending daily calories. The resulting weight gain among our youth heightens their risk for possible heart disease, cancer, diabetes and more. This makes it all the more important for children to start exercising as early as possible. Besides physical benefits, such as improved bone and muscle strength, exercise is also shown to also improve one’s emotional and psychological state.

Cherie with Learn to Swim Students

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By taking up physical exercise early in life, children have the advantage of a leaner, stronger figure, with lower risks of obesity. Running, bicycling, skating and swimming are several simple options that allow for aerobic activity, which improves overall heart strength. Stretching exercises will foster a student’s flexibility and improve the functioning of joints. Push-ups and pull-ups help build muscle strength, as well as weightlifting workouts at the school gym. Kids can get a head start in managing their physical health by choosing from a wide selection of exercise options, which will only prove more beneficial as they mature.

Youth Sports Day 2007 - 2

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Students spend the majority of their school day in the classroom with limited time for physical activity. As important as it is for children to be well-rounded on subjects that increase class performance, there is another type of education that is just as important for their overall well-being. Physical education is a chance for children to put down their pencils and have fun as they work toward staying fit. It can also be the ideal outlet kids need to let loose, while providing them with lifelong benefits unlike any other in their schedule.  Studies show that children who have physical outlets coupled with academics perform better in other areas of their life as well.

Exercise: The Path to a Child’s Healthy Future

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More schools are sharing the responsibility to encourage student fitness with their enhanced physical education programs. For example, SPARK, a well established and award-winning public health organization, is combating obesity through providing educators with research-based physical activity programs for Pre-K – 12 grade students. SPARK focuses on assisting teachers with implementing school games related to aerobics, jogging, sports and more. Teachers receive curriculum, training and equipment that outlines how to get the most out of each physical activity that their classes participate in. Emphasis is placed on proper nutrition for students, as well as the positive effects activities have on academic performance.

Exercise: The Path to a Child’s Healthy Future

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Schools that provide physical education for youth with an emphasis on the positive instill a lifelong motivation to stay fit.  The American Heart Association recommends that children engage in a minimum of one hour of physical activity per day, and schools can easily assist in meeting that goal by providing just half of that important time.  In addition, such classes help build teamwork among students and help participants find interests that they may choose to further pursue. It is important to note that studies have demonstrated that kids who are physically fit also perform better on standardized testing.

P33600-youth sports 062

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To offer the best physical education possible, schools should provide quality equipment, safe facilities and trained supervision. Teachers must be aware of the best, new teaching methods available to maintain student interest and enthusiasm. Variations of traditional games, as well as creating new athletic diversions can be introduced on a vast scale depending on age level and ability.  Success and diversity are key to keeping the children involved. Skills developed during school activities may form the basis for additional physical pursuits. Most importantly, when schools make physical education a requirement for graduation, kids are guaranteed the chance to be exposed to a better sense of how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Exercise: The Path to a Child’s Healthy Future

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Many parents look to enroll their children in after school activities and search for the option that best suits their son or daughter’s interests. One common question is how old a child should be before engaging in certain sports or exercise. Games like flag football, soccer and t-ball are usually appropriate starting at age four, whereas gymnastics is accommodating of all age groups. Competitive activities should be reserved for the older, extroverted child. Both individual and team sports allow for motor skill development as well as promote self esteem. Starting sports at an earlier age will decrease the childhood tendency toward sedentary activities inside the home when physical alternatives are not readily available.

Boys swimming

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Establishing lifelong healthy exercise habits begins in childhood. Lack of physical activity has been correlated with the ongoing surge in obesity, as well as the development of chronic health problems. On the contrary, involving youth in both physical education as well as extracurricular sports programs is associated with increased academic success, as well as psychological and physical well being. Educators and parents alike must set the example and offer appropriate, safe programs that encourage all children, regardless of ability.  The opportunity to strive towards a healthy future that includes exercise as part of the normal, daily routine will then be anticipated with ongoing enthusiasm amongst today’s youth.

Exercise: The Path to a Child’s Healthy Future

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2010 PEP Grant Update & Helpful Tips

Monday, June 21st, 2010

2010 PEP Grant Applications have been announced and now it’s time to hustle!

You’ve got 30 days (or less – depending on when you read this) to put in a high quality proposal.

Here are a few important things to think about as you do your best to meet the deadline.

  • Register online as soon as possible.  Go to the following links and complete the necessary steps to be eligible to apply online. http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp
    (Click Organization Registration and complete the steps). Only online applications will be accepted this year so be sure to register early.


  • Know and understand what you are required measure.  The federal government is expanding the data to be collected by winning applicants.  Be sure to address each of the required measures in your objectives as well as you evaluations.  Visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-14731.htm for the initial announcement and overview. Click Here for the 2010 application.


  • Go for the bonus points!  Be sure to include a well-outlined plan for collecting BMI data.  Your superintendent will need to be on board and signatures will be required.  However, this could be the difference between a winning grant and an application that almost wins.Likewise, gather your programming partners, like other health organizations, your food service staff or local youth organizations.  A written and signed collaborative agreement can also score you much need bonus points.
  • This last tip continues to be critical to winning PEP Grants: Know your needs and be able to prove them through documentation and assessment information. In your application, clearly outline where your program can improve and how PEP funding will make those improvements. Prove that you’ve done your homework by utilizing available assessment tools like the School Health Index and PECAT. Always address local, state and national standards.

    Update 6/22/10:

    The Department is providing technical assistance (TA) opportunities to applicants in the form of both webinars and conference calls. These opportunities are scheduled as follows:

    1. June 21, 2010 (Webinar) –information specific to SHI, HECAT/PECAT, and BMI
    2. June 22, 2010 (Webinar) –information specific to SHI
    3. June 29, 2010 (AM Conference Call) –general info on program and application submission
    4. June 29, 2010 (PM Conference Call) general info on program and application submission
    5. July 7, 2010 (Conference Call) general info on program and application submission

    Additional information related to these TA opportunities will be posted on ED’s website at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/whitephysed/applicant.html.

    Hopefully you’ve prepared up to this point, and already have much of the information you need to craft your winning application.  SPARK knows and understands what it takes to be a part of a winning PEP Grant proposal.  To date, more than 100 PEP grants have been awarded to organizations that chose to implement SPARK curriculum/training and equipment!

    Contact a SPARK representative for a free cost proposal and for help writing SPARK into your grant submission. We want to make it easy for you to implement SPARK and improve the quality and quantity of PE/PA at your site(s).

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    SPARK Supports White House Task Force Report on Childhood Obesity

    Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

    In February, First Lady Michelle Obama launched the Let’s Move! campaign to solve the childhood obesity epidemic within one generation. As part of this effort, President Barack Obama established the Task Force on Childhood Obesity to develop and implement an inter agency plan that details a coordinated strategy, identifies key benchmarks, and outlines an action plan to end the problem of childhood obesity within a generation.

    The report, titled Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation, includes Early Childhood Education, Physical Education and Physical Activity recommendations. SPARK is already well aligned with the recommendations in this report!

    Early Childhood Education

    “Young children need opportunities to be physically active through play and other activities. Physical activity assists children in obtaining and improving fine and gross motor skill development, coordina¬tion, balance and control, hand-eye coordination, strength, dexterity, and flexibility—all of which are necessary for children to reach developmental milestones.
    Preschool years, in particular, are crucial for obesity prevention due to the timing of the development of fat tissue, which typically occurs from ages 3-7…. Features of the child care center environment, including policies regarding activity and provider training, as well as the presence of portable and fixed play equipment, influence the amount of physical activity children engage in while at child care.”

    • SPARK Early Childhood is designed specially for children ages 3-5 years to increase physical activity and development
    • SPARK EC was one of the first large-scale, urban efforts to evaluate a comprehensive physical activity program for the 3-5 age group. The project concluded in winter 2004, and showed the SPARK EC program was very well received by the Head Start teachers, increased students’ moderate to vigorous activity levels to over 50% of class time, and improved the number of minutes children engaged in activity throughout the day.

    School-Based Approaches to Increasing Physical Activity

    “Schools are a key setting to focus on, given the significant portion of time children spend there. Schools can undertake a combination of strategies and approaches to help children be more active including:
    - Creating infrastructure and policies that increase access to and encourage physical activity for all students;
    - Collecting valid and reliable data and using analytical tools and systems to understand student needs and fitness levels, and promoting approaches that are effective in changing physical activity behaviors and, ultimately, health outcomes;
    - Maintaining strong physical education (PE) programs that engage students in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least 50% of PE class time;
    - Providing a variety of activities and specific skills so that students can be physically active not just during class but throughout the day and year; and
    - Providing qualified school professionals who are trained in teaching methods to engage stu¬dents in PE, including for students who face greater barriers to activity.”

    • SPARK physical education and activity programs have been proven to increase levels of MVPA, physical fitness, motor skill development, student enjoyment of the program and academic achievement
    • SPARK was recently identified as a successful model for combating childhood obesity in the report, “Fighting Obesity: What Works, What’s Promising” by the HSC Foundation. The report speaks of SPARK’s history, practice, and methods. SPARK was the ONLY program recommended for physical education AND physical activity.
    • SPARK is the ONLY National Institute of Health (NIH) researched program available providing coordinated curriculum, training, follow up support, and equipment for Pre-K through 12th grade teachers.
    • A Child Trends report titled “What Works for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity Among Children”, highlights SPARK as a program that has proven to increase physical activity among students.

    Physical Education

    “Physical Education (PE) is considered the cornerstone of a school-based comprehensive physical activity program. It provides the basis and opportunity for young people to gain the knowledge and skills needed to maintain physically active lifestyles throughout childhood and into adulthood. A quality PE program can increase student participation in physical activity, increase their physical fitness, and enhance their understanding about the purpose and methods of physical activity. Participation in daily PE is associated with an increased likelihood of participating regularly in moderate to vigorous physical activity.”

    • SPARK Physical Education is an award-winning, research-based program that has been proven to increase activity levels, knowledge, skills, and fitness. SPARK elementary physical education is the ONLY nationally-disseminated program that positively affects ALL of these student outcomes:
      • Academic Achievement
      • Activity levels (moderate to vigorous surpasses 50% of class time)
      • Fitness achievement
      • Sport Skills development
      • Enjoyment of PE
    • SPARK’s the only PE program that has data to show students statistically significantly increase their Fitness gram scores.
    • SPARK activities can be integrated throughout the school day to help your school provide physical education daily

    Nutrition Education

    “More, and better, nutrition education is needed in many schools. While approximately 75% of schools require nutrition education as part of health curriculum requirements, the time spent on nutrition and dietary behavior has declined in recent years, and funding has been limited. Many teachers are not equipped with the skills and knowledge to integrate and promote nutrition education into their classroom curricula. Research has shown that nutrition education interventions, if well designed and effectively implemented can improve dietary behaviors.”

    • SPARK has teamed up with Healthy Kids Challenge and Healthy Lifestyle Choices to provide nutrition and health education curriculum and training programs
    • Healthy Kids Challenge is a nationally recognized non-profit led by an exemplary team of registered, licensed dietitians with many years of school, program, and community wellness experience
    • Healthy Lifestyle Choices curriculum is flexible and provides a variety of scheduling and implementation options for busy elementary teachers

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    22 FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS:

    Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

    (This is part one in a two-part blog series)

    Bubbles: What you’ll need: Liquid soap and a bubble wand

    Blow bubbles with your child. Challenge him to pop the bubbles before they touch the ground. Call out various body parts for him to use to pop the bubbles.

    Body Part Identification: What you’ll need: Favorite children’s books

    While reading books, ask your child to point to body parts that you name in the pictures. As she masters this concept, point to body parts in books and ask her to name them. Body parts used with preschoolers might be: head, neck, ears, eyes, nose, leg, knee, back, arms, waist, chest, wrist, hips, fingers, bottom, foot, ankles, toes, elbow, shoulder, hand, and stomach.

    Freeze Dance: What you’ll need: Fun music

    Turn on music your child likes to dance to. Stop the music every 10-20 seconds. Challenge him to freeze in position until music starts again.

    Roll The Dice: What you’ll need: One die (Use a single die for this game).

    Create an activity for each of the six sides (or use the suggestions below). Allow her to roll the die, and then you all complete the activity it represents. For example:
    1 = Hop on one foot 10 times 2 = Jump on two feet 10 times 3 = Skip around the room 4 = Stand and hang your hands toward your feet 5 = Act like your favorite animal 6 = Roll on the ground like a log

    Walk Like The Animals: What you’ll need: Nothing

    Ask your child to pretend he is an animal. He can move like the animal, look like them, sound like them, etc. Ask your child what he is doing that makes him like that animal. Allow your child to pick his own animals to imitate, but be ready to give suggestions. Here are a few examples:
    • Inchworm
    • Puppy
    • Elephant
    • Spider
    • Seal
    • Snake
    • Monkey
    • Eagle
    • Dog
    Be creative!

    Dramatic Play: What you’ll need: Favorite children’s books, music, and colorful pictures

    Encourage creative movement at home with books, music, pictures, etc. Ask her to act out what she sees and hears in various stories (provide examples of books).

    Feel The Beat: What you’ll need: Fun music with different tempos (slow and fast)

    Play music with a slow beat and encourage your child to move in slow motion. Then play music with a fast beat and prompt them to move quickly. It might look like a graceful ballet when using slow classical music, and rowdy rocking with contemporary music.

    Traffic Lights: What you’ll need: Nothing

    When you are walking with your child, call out a traffic signal color.
    • When you say “green light,” he should walk quickly.
    • On “yellow,” he should move in slow motion.
    • Finally, when you say “red,” he should stop completely.
    Change the movement each time you play. You can pick the movement, or ask your child to pick one. Examples are: Gallop, jog, jump, slide, hop, skip, etc.

    Follow The Leader: What you’ll need: Nothing

    Play the simple game of Follow the Leader with your child when walking from place to place. Change leaders every 20-30 seconds so she gets practice both following and leading. As she masters these skills, add more challenges when you are the leader.

    Mirror, Mirror: What you’ll need: Nothing

    Face your child and explain that he is to move exactly like you will be moving, like a reflection in a mirror. Begin with very slow movements and prompt him to follow you. For example: tilting your head to the side, raising and lowering your hand, sticking out your tongue. As he masters mirroring slowly, add more difficulty. Take turns being the leader. You can also use this game to work on areas of health your child needs work. For example:
    Flexibility: Reach for your toes Strength: Raise up onto the balls of your feet (heel raises), Stretch your arms high, Lunge forward and back, Bend to the sides, Do push-ups from a kneeling position Aerobic Fitness: Jog in place, Form a bridge with your body, Jump and move arms in place

    Bean Bag Balance: What you’ll need: Beanbag or small, soft toy

    Place a beanbag or small soft toy (stuffed animal) on your child’s head. Challenge him to walk from one place to the other while balancing the beanbag on his head. As he masters this, challenge him to move in different ways: sideways, backward, crawling, crab walking, on tiptoes, etc.

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    The Link Between Physical Activity and Academics

    Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

    The data are clear – healthy students are better learners. Over the years, a number of scientists have shown a correlation between high standardized test scores and physical fitness scores (CA Dept. of Education study), and that more time spent in physical education class did not result in a decrease in academic performance (SPARK study in Research Quarterly – Click Here).

    Additional studies around the world have supported these conclusions, while there is virtually no data to justify a common myth: PE should be reduced or eliminated so children have more time to focus on other subjects.

    It is important to understand that physical activity positively affects the following:

    * Overweight and obesity
    * HDL cholesterol
    * Blood pressure
    * Insulin resistance
    * Skeletal health
    * Musculoskeletal injuries
    * Psychological well-being
    * Self-esteem
    * Anxiety and depression

    An impressive list of outcomes everyone can support. Yet, can we draw the same conclusions from physical education classes? No.

    Unfortunately, physical activity and physical education do not always go hand in hand. Studies of physical education have shown not all PE classes are offered in sufficient dosage (frequency and duration) and/or instructed with adequate quality (in this context – 50% or better moderate to vigorous physical activity) to produce the desired health benefits in students. If physical education is not active, it cannot claim the health benefits.

    SPARK strongly supports academic learning AND healthy students through quality, daily physical education for grades Pre K-12. And, SPARK realizes that in many schools, physical education and physical activity time are inadequate – totaling far below the recommended 60 minutes a day. Therefore, we’re providing a link to a section on our website that includes resources to support physical educators integrating academic learning and/or reinforcement into their PE classes, and generalists (e.g., classroom teachers) incorporating physical activity into their classrooms.

    Click Here to access articles, research studies and webinars that discuss the link between physical activity and academics.

    In addition to the content on that page, if you are a member of the SPARKfamily, visit the G.Y.M. (Great Young Minds) section for sample lessons and videos that link physical education to the core content standards.

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    URGENT- Advocate for Quality Physical Education!

    Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

    Urgent Request- deadline of March 26th!


    Advocate for Quality Physical Education as part of the NCLB reauthorization (ESEA)

    The U. S. House Education and Labor Committee is collecting comments regarding the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (formally No Child Left Behind) reauthorization. In an effort to have Physical Education addressed and included in the reauthorization, your participation is extremely necessary. This is crucial as our country is at a very critical point and we can NOT miss this opportunity.

    Please take a few moments to send the following points to the email address below. Now is the chance many of you have been waiting for and it is a small window of opportunity. Please let our Federal Leaders know how important physical education is to our students and their health.

    eseacomments@mail.house.gov

    Please identify your group or identify yourself as a supporter of quality physical education.

    Please request that the new Elementary and Secondary Education Act should:

    • Refocus the newly developed Successful, Safe and Healthy Students section to a Coordinated School Health Approach extending the already proposed activities to provide a critical facility in which many agencies might work together to maintain the well-being of young people.
    • Include the text of the FIT Kids Act, requiring schools to report on the quality and quantity of physical education, physical education facilities, teacher accreditation, and physical education curriculum;
    • Require all physical education teachers to be licensed in physical education;
    • Include physical education standards as part of the core curricula all students need especially when developing assessments for student growth; and
    • Maintain the Carol M. White Physical Education Program as a stand-alone grant program, with minimum funding of $100 million.

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    10 Ways Parents Can Help Their Children Be More Physically Active

    Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

    by Paul Rosengard, Dr. Jim Sallis, Dr. Thom McKenzie

    For optimal health, children should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity (e.g., brisk walking) every day and do vigorous sports or exercise 3 times a week.

    1. Frequently ask your child what physical activities they like to do, then help them do it!
    2. Be a role model. Show children physical activity is important by enthusiastically participating in it.
    3. Participate with your child (e.g., play catch, chop firewood, go on walks together).
    4. Encourage your child to participate on sports teams (e.g., Bobby Sox, Little League, basketball, etc.).
    5. Plan family events, including weekend getaways and vacations, that include physical activity (e.g., hiking, water sports, skiing).
    6. Enroll your child in out-of-school physical activity lessons and classes (e.g., martial arts, dance, swimming, gymnastics).
    7. Transport your child to places where she/he can move and play safely.
    8. Monitor television viewing and video game play. Have your child “earn” time for these “low voltage” activities by accumulating minutes of physical activity.
    9. Select gifts that encourage physical activity (e.g., a ball, a jump rope, a pair of in-line skates).
    10. Write and speak with school administrators showing your support for quality physical education and physical activity programs on campus.

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