| As a certified K-12 grade Health and Physical | | | | why the group is being started. Do not let anyone |
| Education teacher in the State of Pennsylvania and a | | | | run if the form is not signed. Parents challenge your |
| childcare worker I see children getting fatter. Children | | | | child and run the race with them!!! Finishing is the most |
| need to work on the three key elements of fitness | | | | important thing. |
| endurance, strength and flexibility. Endurance is | | | | I have found two products that are specially made |
| developed over time as children participate in aerobic | | | | with children exercising in mind. They are the Youth |
| activities. During aerobic activities the heart beats | | | | Timex Collection Tween Digital and Timex IronKids |
| faster and they breathe faster. When done regularly | | | | sports watch. Children like to see how fast or how |
| over time it strengthens the heart and improves the | | | | long they run. What better way to encourage |
| body's ability to circulate oxygen. | | | | children to exercise is by having their very own |
| Elementary schools across the United States are | | | | watch? The Youth Timex Collection can be clipped |
| trying to fight the battle of the bulge. Children need | | | | the child's belt loop making it easy to workout and |
| to exercise more! It has been recommended children | | | | share. The Timex IronKids watch is the first child's |
| over the age of two get at least 60 minutes of | | | | sport watch with fun colors and easy to use |
| moderate to vigorous exercise on most day | | | | features. It comes in two colors variations blue/black |
| preferably all days of the week. Childhood obesity | | | | and pink/silver. |
| has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Obesity | | | | Begin the session with about 15 minutes of stretching. |
| among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from | | | | The stretching should not be ballistic or bouncing in |
| 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. Today 1 out of 3 | | | | style but rather stretch and hold it for about 20 |
| children are considered overweight or obese in the | | | | seconds. The children could run at there own pace or |
| United States. If the rates continue at this pace 75% | | | | partner up with a friend. Make sure to emphasize |
| of children will be overweight or obese by 2015. | | | | they should be able to talk clearly without huffing and |
| Programs have been started during recess to | | | | puffing while they run. If they can't talk they are |
| encourage children to walk laps to earn prizes. | | | | running to fast and should slow down. Also emphasize |
| However children naturally want to run. How many | | | | the goal is to finish. |
| times do you hear children saying I'll race you to the | | | | The children run in a field or parking lot that has a |
| car! Across the country elementary school are | | | | coned off area. They run the coned area like they |
| starting running programs to help lower the obesity | | | | would run around the track (continuously the same |
| rate among school age children as well as many other | | | | loop). Blow a whistle to indicate the time to run and |
| health benefits. Today you can find hundreds of | | | | blew and yell run at the end of the run session I |
| running races that encourage children to finish the | | | | would blow the whistle again and yell walk. The cycle |
| race. Races are turning up that are "children only | | | | continues until the activity is complete. |
| races". By following these simple guidelines you could | | | | Program Overview |
| have a running group started in no time at next to | | | | Week 1 -Run 1 minute followed by walk 1 minute |
| no cost. | | | | continuing this rotation until the total time is about 20 |
| Have you ever wanted to help your child get in | | | | minutes |
| shape for a sport, or loss weight? Why not start a | | | | Week 2 -Run 2 minutes followed by walk 1 minute |
| running group to help your child and any other child in | | | | continuing this rotation until the total time is about 20 |
| the school do the same? The group will help the | | | | minutes |
| children progress from walking to running at a pace | | | | Week 3 -Run 3 minutes followed by walk 1 minute |
| that's right for each child and help prepare them to | | | | continuing this rotation until the total time is about 20 |
| comfortably finish the 1 mile fun run/ 5k race. The | | | | minutes. |
| children will have a period of time they run followed | | | | Continue adding a minute a week to the running if |
| by a period of time that they walk. The first thing to | | | | the group is adjusting quicker add 2 minutes. If the |
| do is to make sure all participants have an updated | | | | children need to walk at anytime during the run |
| physical and parental permission to participate in a | | | | rotation they should have it be a brisk walk. |
| running group. You should write a letter explaining | | | | |