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Enjoying regular physical activity as a kid can lay the foundation
for a lifetime of physical fitness. To help keep kids active,
the U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services says,
"it is important to encourage young people to participate in
physical activities that are appropriate for their age, enjoyable,
and offer variety."
Here you'll find local programs to promote fitness opportunities for
kids both in school and in the community. |
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See also: Youth Health
Data (compiled from a survey of risky behavior in local
students)
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
[U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services]
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In Our Schools
South County Family YMCA Programs for Students
Student Wellness Initiative
The South County Family YMCA is currently implementing the Student
Wellness Initiative in Sarasota County elementary schools. Certified
Physical Education teachers taught a nine-lesson curriculum in 3rd, 4th and
5th grade PE classes this fall centered on the 5-2-1-0 campaign. Children
received one activity/lesson per week designed by the teachers and the
YMCA’s registered dietitian, incentives and rewards, a take-home scorecard
with assignments for parental involvement and a t-shirt. Additionally, YMCA
staff filmed a series of 21, 30-minute exercise videos that teachers
county-wide can access in their classrooms via the school board’s intranet.
The videos help fulfill the state-mandated 150 minute/week PE requirement.
To further the initiative, the YMCA has committed to sponsoring large
community events for parents and children throughout the year. In October,
the Venice Farmer’s Market set up at the YMCA and a Fall/Halloween festival
ensued with pumpkin decorating and a costume exchange. More events are
scheduled in upcoming months with the goal of getting families to be active
and healthy together.
Fit Cast
The South County Family YMCA and the Instructional Technology Department of
Sarasota County Schools have partnered to bring live
exercise
programming into every
elementary classroom in the district. Live broadcasts of a variety of
fitness classes such as Zumba, Boot Camp and Yoga will
come right into classrooms
requiring
no special equipment, no clothing changes and
no
change
to the classroom
environment. YMCA-certified
instructors will teach and interact
with students using 2-way video conferencing technology meaning one fitness
instructor in a central location has the ability to reach all elementary
students in the district at one time. This new program brings 30 minute
exercise sessions to students during the school day with no additional
expense to the district or effort from classroom teachers.
Beginning in the Fall of 2010,
Food and Nutrition Services will be
joining the partnership to add
nutrition messages to
the
Fit Casts.
For more information on how to get your child’s teachers to tune in, contact
Jennifer Tucker, Healthy Communities Coordinator
at the South County Family YMCA, using the information
below.
Contact Jennifer Tucker at 941-504-1905 for more
information
Sarasota
County Wellness Policy
Federal legislation requires nearly all of the nation’s 15,000 public
school districts implement a local wellness policy. Each policy must
include goals for nutrition education, physical activity and school-based
activities to promote student wellness; nutrition guidelines for all foods
available on the school campus and for school meals ; a plan for measuring
implementation of the policy; and involvement of parents, students, school
administrators and members of the school board and the community.
The wellness policy for Sarasota County provides a framework for building
healthier schools and kids.
Sarasota
County Schools - Food & Nutrition Services website
Sarasota County
School Wellness Policy [35KB .doc]
Police Athletic League
The Police Athletic League of Sarasota County was founded in 1988 to provide a safe
environment for the youth of Sarasota County to participate, learn, and
achieve while developing positive relationships between youth and Law
Enforcement.
www.sarasotapal.org/main.htm
Skate for the Health of It!
Local skating rink Stardust offers this learn-to-skate program to all
Sarasota County elementary schools as an adjunct to their physical fitness
programs. Stardust is also a popular destination for school
fundraising parties, bringing families together for a fun night of
entertainment and physical fitness.
www.stardustskatecenter.net
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Local Resources
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Links to Healthy Tools
Walking School Bus
A Walking School Bus is a group of children walking to school with one or
more adults. If that sounds simple, it is, and that’s part of the beauty of
the walking school bus. It can be as informal as two families taking turns
walking their children to school to as structured as a route with meeting
points, a timetable and a regularly rotated schedule of trained volunteers.
The Walking School Bus concept started as an effort to increase the safety
of streets for pedestrians and bicyclists and also to increase the
engagement in physical activity among school‐age children. Another added
benefit is that it reduces the amount of congestion on the road and as a
result is more environmentally friendly. To learn more about the Walking School bus idea – and how
to start one at your school – go to...
www.walkingschoolbus.org
www.saferoutesinfo.org
Walk + Bike
"School Bus" Guidebook
[PDF From www.walknbike.org ]
Action for Healthy Kids
Action for Healthy Kids, a national non‐profit organization working to
improve children’s nutrition and increase physical activity, which in turn
improves their readiness to learn. The organization is a trusted and
recognized authority and resource on creating health promoting schools that
support sound nutrition and good physical activity. A variety of resources
for improving schools and children’s health can be found on the
organization's website:
www.actionforhealthykids.org
Kids Run the Nation
Kids Run the Nation is a multi-week, gender-neutral, youth running
program designed for children in grades K-6.
It can be implemented as a physical education or classroom wellness
curriculum, as a before- or after-school program, or as a community-based
youth running program. It emphasizes participation and developing a healthy
lifestyle, rather than competition.
Visit the
website...
ABC For Fitness
Provides instruction for teachers to incorporate short bursts of activity
at the beginning of each class. ABC for Fitness™ can ensure that children
obtain the level of physical activity that is essential for good health and
well being.
http://www.davidkatzmd.com/abcforfitness.aspx
Families, Food and Fitness
Interative Tools include a Beverage Guide to Sugars, a Fast Food Menu, a
Nutrition Facts Label, and a Spice Guide. Developed by the Cooperative
Extension System.
www.extension.org/families_food_fitness
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