Healthy Kids Challenge

Welcome to Wednesday WOWS! March 7, 2007
W-wonderful O-opportunities W-with S-schools

....Easy HEAR, SEE, DO action tips each week

HEAR >>>> Provide a message to increase awareness of knowledge/skills
SEE   >>>> Show people HOW to make healthy changes
DO    >>>> Help people practice and make healthy changes


The WOWS Message: AWE-some Kids Games Link Active Play with Learning!

< HEAR >

Kids games engage both the mind and body. Use familiar and/or new game ideas at your youth program or school to blend learning, physical activity and fun all together!

< SEE >

Help youth leaders, P.E. and classroom teachers SEE how to use the following kid game resources in the classroom, gym (during inclement weather), and outdoors playground.

• Healthy Kids Challenge, Acting Up booklet - Ideas to make active play out of physical movement while enhancing communication, math, social study and health skills! Check it out at http://www.healthykidschallenge.com/ordermaterials.php .
  
• Streetplay.com, "The Games" (http://www.streetplay.com/thegames/) - Even though these game ideas may have originated in city streets, they can be adapted to a gym setting and/or playground. Few resources are needed and while kids are having fun they can learn counting, strategy, hand-eye coordination and physical activity skills.
• Take 10! (http://www.take10.net/) - Suggestions for safe and age appropriate 10 minute physical activities.
  
• Dragonfly TV. Parents and Teachers/ PBS Kids Go! (http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/parentsteachers/index.html) - "Tween" leaders/teachers will benefit from the Web site experiments linking science with active play games and sports.
  

< DO >

1. Use kids games for classroom rewards, free time, and organized recesses. Kids will love it, and you'll feel good about providing healthy active play with a touch of educational learning!
   

• Reward good behavior and classroom achievements with fun and simple HKC games! For example, try the "Race for the Place" game from the Acting Up booklet on page 26. This game helps kids practice number place value as they perform relay activities.
  
• Ahead of time, laminate several sets of numbers (0-9) and 4-6 commas.
• In the classroom or a large area, divide kids into groups and give each group 2 commas.
• Place the number pile in an area opposite of where the kids are located.
• Write a number on a dry erase board and show it to the kids.
• Instruct kids that on signal, the first person in each group will use a locomotor skill (run, hop, skip, slide) to move to the number pile and bring back the number in the ones column.
• Touch the second person's hand, who then gets the number for the tens column and so on until the number is complete.
  
• When all numbers have been retrieved, the group places the comma(s) in the appropriate place and practices saying the number. * For younger kids use smaller numbers and eliminate the commas.
• Organize games at recess. Since many teachers have recess duty, encourage and support them to offer an organized game at recess one day a week. 
• Share  some of the Web site resources above to provide ideas and rules for playground games. 
• Assist by providing the necessary equipment.
  
• In the morning, over the PA system announce the game name and state where to meet on the playground. As time goes on, have kids submit game ideas and pick from their favorites.
  

2. Develop an after school game club to expand game skills, contests and provide AWE-some fun! Offer a wide selection to appeal to all interests such as, Red Light/Green Light, Capture the Flag, Double Dutch rope jumping, 4-Square, clapping rhymes, and more. Check the Web sites above for ideas.

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Take Note: Recipe Contests Deadlines Approaching! Enter now and get involved in the excitement !

"Healthy Kids Can Cook" - Entry deadline: March 16, 2007 (Click on the HKC home page contest link or at http://www.healthykidschallenge.com/hkcc.php .) This is a GERD (acid reflux disease)-friendly recipe contest sponsored by AstraZeneca. Kids and teens, ages 12-17 are eligible.

"Kids C.A.N. Healthy Recipe Contest" - Entry deadline: March 24, 2007 ( www.healthykidschallenge.com/tweencontest.php ). This is the Healthy Kids Challenge middle school contest (for 7th and 8th graders). Check out C.A.N. learning ideas at: http://www.healthykidschallenge.com/Recipe_Contest_Learning_Ideas.pdf .

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<><><> HEAR_SEE_DO Tips for Newsletters <><><>

Cut and paste a HEAR_SEE_DO tip each week into your own parent newsletters!

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Screen Time Activity Breaks
if you find your family sitting at the computer or watching T.V. for more than a half hour at a time, make a conscious effort to get everyone up and move! Organize a family stretch break, march in place, practice jumping jacks, skip around the house; anything to incorporate healthy physical activity!
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Grant Opportunity
The Department of Health and Human Services promoting healthy lifestyles
_______________________________________________________________

Take Action: Healthy People, Places, and Practices in Communities Project
http://www.osophs.dhhs.gov/ophs/healthypeople/
Proposal deadline: March 30, 2007
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and Regional Health Administrators are requesting proposals from community-based organizations and others to evaluate the impact of healthy lifestyles activities in local settings that support the government's HealthierUS initiative. Nonprofit, community-based organizations including faith-based groups, after-school programs, coalitions and others are encouraged to submit proposals for funding starting at $2,000 up to $5,000. for more information visit the Web site above or call 1-866-224-3815.
                                          
Thought for the Day

"I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged  in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." -- Robert Frost

 
For questions about Healthy Kids Challenge, please contact:
Vickie L. James, RD, LD, Director
vickie@healthykidschallenge.com
www.healthykidschallenge.com
1-888-259-6287