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Raising Fit Kids: Healthy Nurtition, Exercise, and Weight


Does your child get enough exercise every day? Does she breathe fast and break a sweat for 60 minutes, as is recommended to keep kids healthy? That's happening while she's at school, right? Maybe not.

Only about half of kids 11 to 16 are active at least 5 days a week, one study shows. If you’re counting on your child getting all of their physical activity at school, think again. Only 1 in 5 school systems offers recess every day. Kids can spend recess sitting on the school steps -- if they get recess at all. 

So, what's a parent to do? Get involved.

Exercise is so important. It helps keep kids at a healthy weight and can make them feel good, physically and mentally. Moving and playing is a great stress-reliever. It can also help kids manage their emotions and inspire them to make other healthy choices, like picking healthy foods.  Here’s how to help your kids get more movement at school.

1. Check and See: Does Your School Make the Fitness Grade?

First, compare your child's school with an "active school" here.  Schools are measured on things like: Do the kids get activity breaks throughout the day? How often do they have recess? PE? Are all kids moving at once during gym class?  

At the end of the assessment you can get a six-step plan of action, including a report on how your child’s school ranks. Plus, you can find out how to apply for grant money for equipment, or training for school staff or volunteers.

Ideally, a school should offer physical activity for at least 60 minutes daily.

2. Inform Others

With that information in hand, get a little more. Learn how movement helps students and what makes a good PE program. ( Here is one place to start.) That way, you can offer some possible solutions when you raise concerns to school administrators or teachers.

People may think that academics and physical activity can’t coexist during the school day, but that’s just not true, says Sam Kass, executive director for Let's Move!, the national initiative to fight childhood obesity.


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