Tag Archives: children fitness

Redskins Quarterback and Local Students Attempt Guinness World Record

UPDATE: Congratulations to the 646 students who accompanied the Washington Redskins Quarterback, Donovan McNabb, and his teammates yesterday. They successfully set the Guinness World Record for Largest Virtual Exercise Class. Hopefully this accomplishment will inspire others across the country to rise up with the Play 60 Challenge!

On Tuesday, September 21st, The Guinness World Record for Largest Virtual Exercise Lesson will be pursued by the Washington Redskins’ Quarterback, Donovan McNabb. The event will take place at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C.

McNabb, who was recently named Health Ambassador for the Redskins, is asking fellow Redskins and 1,000 local students to join him in a 30 minute exercise lesson. To set the world record, the event must include at least 605 participants and last thirty minutes or longer. The attempt will be observed by an Official Guinness World Record Adjudicator, Mike Janela. If all standards are rigorously met, Janela will declare The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation as record holders and present them with an official certificate; a feat not easily met. (more…)

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Theresa

Teens on Probation Run Half-Marathons

Disciplining students who break laws is always a difficult question for educators and juvenile probation officers. A program in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, is trying a new approach. The group is called Run the Streets, and they’re offering teens in trouble with the law the chance to avoid detention or probation by participating in a running program.

The teenagers train for and complete a half-marathon. Adult mentors also run with the teens, to provide an extra dimension of support and encouragement. Not only do the teens get fit, they also build self-confidence and self-discipline. “I wanted to develop alternatives to traditional probation where kids would be internally motivated to change their behaviors rather than depending on external negative consequences, which are by and large ineffective,” explains founder Bob Williams, who is also a probation officer and runner.

Read the full story at EduInReview.com and ThatsFit.com.

Posted on August 31, 2023 by Health Buzz

D.C. Gym Class Gets an Overhaul

Gym Class ParachuteStudents no longer need fret over being the last one chosen for team games in gym class. In D.C. area public schools, physical education is shifting its focus to individual fitness and personal health and away from team games. “The trend is to move away from competitiveness,” explains P.E. teacher Donald Hawkins.

Browne Education Campus has adopted the SPARK program, which stands for Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids. The program is specifically designed to fight childhood obesity. The new curriculum features age-appropriate fitness activities that keep kids active for the full class period. Not only are the activities designed to get kids moving more than traditional gym class, they also incorporate lessons about health and the body. (more…)

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Health Buzz

Why Physical Education is Necessary

Schools around the country are cutting back their budgets this year and many great teachers are losing jobs. What subjects are first to go? Physical Education?

Well, a somewhat recent study by Dr. Fred Gage and his colleagues at the Salk Institute in San Diego have successfully proven that exercise increases neurogenesis. What is neurogenesis you ask? Neurogenesis is a process of the human and animal brain in which it produces new brain cells. The study was tested on mice and rats and the results were one-sided. The mice and rats that were allowed to exercise on a spinning wheel performed better hands down than the sedentary mice and rats on several IQ tests (mazes, for example). The results seemed to prove that even a small portion of exercise can make a difference and produce remarkable results.

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Posted on July 12, 2023 by Matt

Fun Bus Brings Fitness to Kids

The Fun Bus is a kid’s fitness center on wheels with the philosophy to “enhance learning going on inside the classroom and home, using hands-on approach to fitness and making it fun.” These bright green school buses have all had the seats removed and in their place are padded walls and carpets along with colorful mats, swings, tunnels and even ladders.

The Fun Bus exists to give kids from 18 months to seven years old a fun and active experience. The focus on health and fitness is one the company feels is extremely important as studies have shown that staying fit can help improve a child’s self-esteem and decrease their risk of serious illnesses.

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Posted on July 10, 2023 by Amy

Karate Kids Fitness Program for Home

Have you taken your kids to see the “Karate Kid” remake with Jaden Smith? Did you leave the theater enthused and excited about martial arts training? Once you looked into it, though, were you put off by the expense and the commitment? Maybe you just can’t fit in one more activity after school. The Karate Kids Home Fitness program may be just what you are looking for.

First created in 2001, Karate Kids Home Fitness is one of the country’s largest fitness programs for children. It was designed by a decorated martial arts practitioner and instructor Robert Tallack, a three time World Martial Arts Championship winner.

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Posted on June 18, 2023 by Carmen

Jaden Smith’s Karate Kid Training Program

Jaden Smith, star of the new movie “Karate Kid,” trained every day for four months in order to learn kung fu, the martial art performed in the film. Wu Gang, the stunt coordinator of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team, was hired to be the fight coordinator for the remake of the 1984 original. Wu worked 11-year-old Jaden at such a level of intensity that he cried at one point. Many of the training scenes included in the film are actual sessions that Smith experienced.

With a focus on stretching, front kicks and upper blocks, Smith has been quick to point out that the training was real and consisted of grueling, intense training. Training sessions ran from five to eight hours many days.

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Posted on June 18, 2023 by Carmen

Playgrounds: Not Just for Kids

Taking your kids to the playground doesn’t mean that you are relegated to sitting on a bench with a book. Join your kids by completing this workout and showing them that fitness, and fun, don’t stop when you grow up!

  • Sprint to the edge of the playground and walk back. Repeat 10 times.
  • Use the monkey bars for 10 pull-ups or chin-ups to work your back and shoulders.

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Posted on June 2, 2023 by Carmen

Wii Fit Replaces Gym Class In Texas

Remember the days when gym class meant simply running around or playing in groups whether it be a round of basketball, dodge ball, wiffle ball or even baseball? Most kids live for these outlets to give them a break from math or history class and kids just like to move and be active. With all that said I was really surprised when I learned that two Texas schools were going to start instituting the Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit to promote health and physical activity.

For those of you who have not had the opportunity to try the Wii Fit, you can read our Wii Fit review along with a follow-up article on the reality of the Wii Fit, once we all made it past the initial hype.

The idea of having the Wii Fit at home in your living room to encourage kids to get off the couch and be more active and engaged is great. On the other hand, using this system at school can actually inhibit the amount of exercise students would otherwise normally get due to the physical activity associated with the Wii Fit being somewhat limited. Students don’t need the Wii to learn how to do a push-up or sit-up the good old-fashioned way; kids running and jumping and interacting together and not with a machine is best. (more…)

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Amy

Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign has Personal Foundation

Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move fitness initiative, the rallying cry to end obesity in children in this generation, is rooted in her own childhood, she says. The current emphasis in discussion of the initiative has been on the nutrition element, but in the coming weeks, the fitness element will be unveiled.

“If kids are naturally active, they shouldn’t have to worry about what they eat. That’s how it was when we were growing up. Nobody talked to you about nutrition. You ate your vegetables. You ate what was on your plate. And you went outside and played. There wasn’t a need for structured activity,” she says in an interview from her office. “The physical education piece is about exploring that. In our nation, what happened? What have been the cultural trends that have led us away from that regular exercise and activity that kids used to get?” (more…)

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Carmen

Marcia Cross Partners with Kaboom! to Promote Playgrounds

kaboomDesperate Housewives star Marcia Cross, mom to three-year-old twins, has teamed up in conjunction with Mott’s to work with Kaboom.org, a charity that helps to encourage kids to spend more time outdoors. Kaboom!, whose vision is to have a playground within walking distance of every child in America, donates funds to help make this dream possible for communities.

Founded in 1995, the organization works with communities to create safe playgrounds, skate parks, ice rinks and even to renovate aging athletic fields. Community members create videos explaining the need for a playground and can be awarded up to $5,000 in funding. In addition, the Kaboom! website offers knowledge and experience to anyone interested through online toolkits, training and technical assistance. (more…)

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Carmen