MAKE IT MEMORABLE
Kids are more likely to stick with regular physical activity when they are enjoying it, so here are some suggestions that will keep kids happy and healthy for a lifetime:
- Get comfy: There are plenty of organized activities you children can participate in, whether sports, dance, karate or yoga. If a particular activity doesn't feel right, find something that fits your child's personality.
- Find a buddy: Friends help inspire, increase enthusiasm and enjoyment creating a love of the activity, which will last a lifetime. Additionally, family participation will heighten bonding within the union.
- Change it up: Repetition can easily cause boredom. When it comes to activity, think variety and altering activities with the change of seasons to increase enjoyment.
- Keep a journal/scrapbook: Your kids will be surprised of physical growth and improvements over time. As children get older, have them continue this by recording their own progress.
A STAR IS BORN
I remember checking my backpack the last day of each month filled with anticipation. The new school lunch menu was like the movie Jaws; face as tight as a raisin, scared of what might happen next while always keeping one eye opened.
MONDAYS: Hotdog, peas & chocolate milk; TUESDAYS: Sloppy Joe, mashed potatoes & celery
WEDNESDAYS: Hamburgers, tater tots & carrots; THURSDAYS: Spaghetti & meatballs, garlic bread. This all led up to…. FRIDAYS: Pizza, peaches & apple juice. It was an elementary school thriller.
Long ago are the days of these lunches from my elementary school years. More recently, schools have become health conscious, either by mandate or otherwise. A movement to implement healthier food choices, such as salads, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat and nonfat yogurt, is underway. In addition, saturated fat, transfat and sodium in cafeteria foods are being reduced.
This is a massive step forward and I applaud the effort to assist in combating the obesity epidemic over taking our schools locally, statewide, and nationally.
Yet, a recent study suggests junk food sold within schools is not the cause of weight gain in middle school children. This could possibly be due to the fact that students are only engaged in school 6-8 hours a day; what they do the remaining hours is beyond the schools control. Therefore, it is important to explore our home environments and cupboards to find its essence like reviewing the credits.
Parents, our children are watching our behaviors, good, bad & the ugly. From eating to sleeping, talking to walking, and reading to daydreaming.
Through KID-FIT, parents are encouraged to engage their preschoolers through fun, home-play activities, monthly healthy recipes, and physical action. Healthy food choices are constantly reinforced throughout the curriculum and KID-FIT is the only preschool fitness program proven to enhance fitness skills and health knowledge of preschool children.
Yes, it is extremely imperative for our community schools to provide the fortification necessary for healthy eating behaviors through appropriate lunches and snacks. But, our home lives set the stage, the school is the role model, and parents are the stars.
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PRESCHOOL: A MATTER OF HEALTH
Friends and family often asked why we sent our daughter to a private preschool school. Why did we spend extra money when she could have gone to the public school? After all, many successful people have come out of public education. True!
Both, public and private preschools have a great influence on nutritional and physical habits of students simply due to the structural design of the school system. More than 75% of American youth aged two to five are enrolled in some sort of early childhood education program.
As we are all aware, the obesity epidemic is overtaking our preschools and the school milieu is one avenue for reaching our children. They are engaged in the learning environment during allotted school time, as well as before and after school programs. Schools which allow for ample time for children to learn healthy eating and physical habits, have improved the nutritional and fitness choices of students as well as increased academic success. Through the preschool physical education program, KID-FIT, early childhood learners are active in a structured curriculum which promotes healthy lifestyle habits. Using generally agreed upon fitness and nutrition facts; KID-FIT builds positive associations with exercise and good nutrition. Moreover, when KID-FIT is introduced in the early childhood setting, the school has measureable fitness objectives and gradually becomes responsible for the quality of foods produced during lunch. This paves the way for a systematic approach. Additionally, implementing worthy health promotion for school staff increases the value of the preschool itself. I do deem it suitable for a school, either public or private, to organize school personnel in fitness activities and healthy food habits. After all, teachers and administrators who want to encourage students to live healthy lifestyles will be more successful if they model healthy behaviors. Conducive environments of health allow children and teachers alike to share the social experience of eating healthy together and do not mandate an enforced habitat. Besides, most teachers can benefit from wellness programs and health promotion efforts, and learn along with their students.
All in all, our daughter’s preschool understood the characteristics of health and wellness in a consistent manner. Its small community approach allowed students and teachers alike to exhibit personal and social responsibility toward their own physical well being, and it understood that school based health interventions and strategies have the greatest impact on our youth when coupled with family involvement. For us, they created an improved outlook for her future.
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YOU'RE NEVER REALLY READY FOR THE DAY THAT YOUR WHOLE LIFE CHANGES. . .
For me, September 1, 2007 was the moment I knew everything as I had once known was gone and lost forever. My life was pretty normal. I began a teaching career, got married, bought a house, had a beautiful daughter, and loved every aspect of motherhood. We were raising our family in rural Wyoming, something I had always been passionate about, and settled into a nice nesting and comfortable place.
The phone rang. The other end said my husband had been in a serious car accident, suffered a traumatic brain injury and was being life-flighted to the closest trauma hospital, nearly 250 miles away from our town. He has since made an outstanding recovery, but not without physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities, which made me realize, I must live my life to the fullest and achieve my dreams to bring our family closer together. Three key themes continue to allow us to relentlessly push forward:
1. Creating structure & routines
In the beginning, we created a weekly chart to organize my husband’s daily tasks down to the hour with a good balance between work and play; from cognitive skill work to strength training, from cooking to play time with our daughter. He was able to self manage himself which relieved me of some burden. Moreover, these habits reinforced his self esteem and self worth. Since problem solving and reasoning are at times obstacles, we currently use a family calendar to communicate our schedules and provide continuity.
2. Nutrition & lifetime sports
As a physical educator, I knew that nutrition and exercise would play a major role in his recovery. Pre- injury we, as a family, frequently ate high sugar and carbohydrate meals which caused my own personal weight gain. Currently, our Mediterranean diet which includes a high intake of vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereals, & fish; has subdued acute ailments and given us the strength and energy to drive past challenges. Additionally, we engage in lifetime physical sports such as skiing, fishing and kayaking, to enhance socialization, increase decision making, and give value within society.
3. After me, you come first
As a woman I often try to be everything to everyone. My role as a wife, mother, daughter, caretaker, teacher, & business owner often challenge my choices, but using the motto “after me, you come first” has freed me of guilt. Some may say this is selfish. I compare it to being in a plane with a child when the air masks release; I can’t help the child if I don’t put my air mask on first. Simple stated, if you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else.
By doing this I set my family’s financial future in motion and have given my child, husband and myself the permanence and stability we once enjoyed, and nearly took for granted.
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Jennifer has been a physical educator for over 8 years. She received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in physical education from Queens College. She is also certified in first aid and CPR.
Through her experience, Jennifer understands that all children learn through play. She views learning in a holistic way which reflects the real world; dynamic, collaborative, and interactive. Jennifer believes physical education encompasses a cross disciplinary approach which stimulates the early learner to become responsible for his/her physical well being over time. In return, physical movement and health awareness impact and optimistically increase a sense of self-
worth as well as raise social competencies.
Creative, nurturing, methodical, and organized, Jennifer strives to develop and deliver exceptional lessons. Moreover, Jennifer wishes to furnish the learner with a multitude of pleasing experiences in physical education so an extension and appreciation of activity over a lifetime exists.
During her spare time, Jennifer enjoys horseback riding, volunteering with disabled adults and being a mom.
The KID-FIT curriculum incorporates children's fitness exercises through a variety of activities. Nine complete curriculum themes are presented every six weeks through the use of motivating music and exciting props. Socialization is seen during age appropriate dances, and sports and gymnastics-like activities as well as gross motor skill movements. KID-FIT helps develop self-esteem, and positive associations with exercise, healthy eating, and rest. Additionally, kids, teachers and parents alike are able to chart fitness progress via pre and post testing methods designed to provide a map of one's growth.
You can reach Jennifer via jennifer@kidfitlongisland.com or at www.kidfitlongisland.com |
