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Physical Education_________________________________________ |
The statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are alarming. Today, about 16 percent of all children and teens in the United States are overweight. The two major causes of obesity are too much of the wrong foods and a lack of physical activity. Our children are falling way short of getting the 30-minute minimum of moderate physical activity a day. In fact according the The Journal of Pediatrics, Vol 146, No. 6, June 2005, children need 60 minutes of daily physical activity. What can we do? We can get moving and get our children moving. It is important to understand the difference between the two terms “physical education” and “physical activity.” A quality physical education program offers the best opportunity to provide physical activity to all children and to teach them the skills and knowledge needed to establish and sustain a physically active lifestyle. We can make sure that schools provide a quality physical education program that promote, through a variety of planned physical activities, each student’s optimum physical, mental, emotional, and social development, and should promote activities and sports that all students enjoy and can pursue throughout their lives. What is Quality Physical Education?
The Results:
2003 Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Survey The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is conducted every other year in Michigan and assesses a broad range of health practices among a cross section of the state’s high school students. The 2003 Michigan survey included 99 questions covering the behaviors related to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among both youth and adults. The behaviors are grouped into six general health risk areas:
To view the survey results go to: http://www.emc.cmich.edu/YRBS/2003/default.htm Exemplary Physical Education Curriculum (EPEC) To find out about EPEC, a state-of-the art physical education curriculum, go to: www.michiganfitness.org/EPEC/ All Children Exercising Simultaneously (ACES) On the first Wednesday in May of each year, millions of children all over the world will be exercising together. The purpose of ACES Day is to reinforce the importance of physical activity for health. In Michigan, schools can register for CES with the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness at www.michiganfitness.org/aces Walk-to-School Day The Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness is the state organizer for Michigan’s observance of “Walk to School Day,” a national program started by Partnership for a Walkable America. Website: www.walktoschool-usa.org. Michigan schools that plan to participate in “Walk to School Day” should register with the Governor’s Council to receive walkability surveys, parent brochures, stickers for kids, and more. Go to www.michiganfitness.org/Walk Safe Routes to School Program Safe Routes to School (SR2S) is a state and national movement to make it safe, convenient and fun for children to bicycle and walk to school. In Michigan, officials from transportation, public health and education have joined with parents, students, teachers, school administrators, engineers, landscape architects, law enforcement and other community leaders to support Safe Routes to School. Visit www.saferoutestoschool.org Michigan Steps Up Michigan’s Surgeon General, Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, invites families and communities to join Michigan Steps Up. Improving your health doesn’t always require big lifestyle changes. Just a little planning and a few small steps can add up to big rewards. When you log onto Michigan Steps Up you can set up a free customized personal plan that will help you set and track the goals that are important to you. www.michgianstepsup.org Kidnetic Sponsored by the International Food Information Council, is a product of the ACTIVATE initiative, a comprehensive outreach program designed to assist families and children in achieving healthy lifestyles through good nutrition and regular physical activity. The kidnetic website delivers lifestyles and recipes to make with your kids. www.kidnetic.com Kids’ Health This American Academy of Family Physicians website is aimed at families and has a specific parents’ link. Parents can utilize the site or links for nutrition, physical activity, and health information related to youth. www.kidshealth.org Parent Tips for Rearing Heart-Healthy, Active Children This American Heart Association sponsored website is geared at helping parents help children develop good physical activity habits at an early age. Information addresses heart healthy habits that parents can model for their children. www.justmove.org/fitnessnews/hfbodyframe.cfm?Target=parenttips.html PE Central This site has information regarding physical education and health for teachers, students, and parents. PE Central’s goal is to “provide the latest information about developmentally appropriate physical education programs for children and youth.” It includes lesson and assessment ideas, I nformation about adapted PE, how to create a positive learning environment, a program called “log it” to log steps/miles with pedometers, and much more. www.pecentral.org 10 Steps for Parents This USDA produced, two-sided handout for parents encourages their involvement with their children’s eating and physical activity behaviors. One side of the flyer displays the Food Guide Pyramid and promotes parents getting involved in school meals. The other side displays the Activity Pyramid and encourages parents to make physical activity a part of their children’s lives. www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Parents/index.htm Hoops For Heart An educational and fund-raising program in which middle school students perform basketball skills. Funds raised support research and educational programs to reduce disability and death from heart disease and stroke. www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2360 Jump Rope For Heart An educational and fund-raising program for elementary school students that promotes physical activity. Funds raised support research and educational programs to reduce disability and death from heart disease and stroke. www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2441 Brain Breaks A free on-line Physical Activity Idea Book for Elementary Classroom Teachers. This booklet was developed by the Michigan Department of Education in cooperation with the Michigan Association of Health, Physical Educaiton, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD), Albion College, Concordia College and the University of Michigan. www.emc.cmich.edu/BrainBreaks/default.htm National Center on Physical Activity and Disabilities (NCPAD) The NCPAD website contains references for journal articles, newsletters, book excerpts, and hyperlinks to websites as well as NCPAD’s fact sheets on topoics relating to specific activities and disabilities. It also provides national resource directories of facilities, programs, and events concerned with physical activity and disabilities. www.ncpad.org |
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