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(Name of school) is one of 74 elementary schools in Delaware that has partnered with Nemours Health and Prevention Services (NHPS) to help our students be more physically active at school. Mounting evidence shows that students who are physically active have better grades and achieve higher test scores, are more attentive during instruction, and have fewer disciplinary problems and better attendance.

Through participation in the Make School a Moving Experience initiative, our school will receive support to provide all of our students with the opportunity to participate in 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. We will have a school plan for how to reach this goal through a combination of physical education, recess, and classroom activities. NHPS will provide materials and equipment, teacher training, and online resources to support our school-wide effort.

NHPS received the funding for this initiative through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. PEP grants are awarded to school districts and non-profits across the country to enhance physical education and physical activity in schools. We are very excited to be one of the participating schools! To learn more, check out www.nemours.org/150minutes.

Through our partnership with Nemours Health and Prevention Services (NHPS) and the Make School a Moving Experience initiative, we are now (or in the near future) providing your child with physical activity in the classroom through Take 10! This is an evidence-based program that promotes physical activity and academic achievement – and (name of school) is excited to be offering this to our students!

Physical activity has a number of benefits for students, not the least of which is improved academic performance. By adding Take 10! to our classrooms, we are able to combine core academic content (in Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, and Health) with 10-minute physical activities throughout the day. 

Today, children are spending record amounts of time sitting down – in classrooms and in front of the TV, computer or video games – and less time moving their bodies. By adding physical activity to the classroom, we are doing our part to help your child meet their recommended physical activity requirement of 60 minutes a day! Ask your child about their favorite Take 10! activity today!

The CATCH Program (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) brings schools, families, and communities together to teach children how to be healthy for a lifetime. Through our work with the Make School a Moving Experience initiative, (name of school) is proud to be providing this learning opportunity to our students and their families!

In physical education class, your children are being taught new, high-energy activities that get their hearts pumping from the minute they step foot into the gym! CATCH in the classroom engages your kids so that they learn to identify, practice, and adopt healthy eating and physical activity habits. Children are encouraged to make these healthy lifestyle changes at school through consistent messaging when they visit the cafeteria each day.

This program is effective because healthy behaviors are reinforced through a coordinated approach - in the classroom, in the cafeteria, in physical education class, at home, and during after-school programs. Do your part at home by asking your children about the healthy behaviors they have been learning about at school and asking them which one or two they would like to work on incorporating into your daily lives.

Even though the colder, snowy weather is right around the corner, that doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to indoor physical activity.

However, if you are going to go outside to play this winter, here are a few simple tips that will help keep you and your family safe in the cold:

• Drink plenty of water before, during, and after. Dehydration can still occur in the cold.
• Dress in layers. Choose clothing that will draw sweat away from the body and dry quickly. And if it’s wet and windy, be sure to include a layer to keep the cold air and rain out.
• Protect your extremities. Be sure to cover your head with a hat, insulate your feet with warm socks, and wear gloves or mittens to protect your hands and fingers.
• Don’t overdo it. Cold and exercise both cause stress on the body, so start slow and don’t overdo it.

If it’s still too cold to be outside, use your creativity to come up with a variety of ideas for being physically active indoors with your kids. You can create an obstacle course, act out some of your favorite storybooks, do an exercise DVD, or just turn on some music and dance!

There are plenty of things to do, so don’t let the cold stop you from being physically active this winter.

Let's Move! Celebrates First Year

In February 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama launched her Let's Move! campaign in an effort to raise awareness about childhood obesity. Through a variety of strategies, this initiative is dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation. And although this is an ambitious goal, it can be done. Everyone - parents, schools, elected officials, health care professionals, private sector companies, and more - plays an important role!

With the launch of this initiative, President Obama created the first-ever Task Force on Childhood Obesity to develop a national action plan. One of their recommendations for Let's Move! was to increase physical activity. Nationally, throughout the first year of this initiative, there were several accomplishments related to this goal. And at a local level, your school's participation in "Make School a Moving Experience" is helping to reach this goal during the school day. Congratulations on your great work!

As spring is quickly approaching, schools, kids, and families can start to think about ways to take advantage of America's great outdoors. Outdoor activity helps kids maintain a healthy weight, boost their immunity and bone health and lowers stress. Visit Let's Move! Outside for some great resources to keep everyone moving!