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Editorial
Establishing a good nutritional plan with adequate physical activity helps children develop healthy lifestyle habits at an early age. Physical activity is needed for healthy living, helps build self-esteem, confidence and is a terrific management tool for stress.
“Children are programmed to move,” said Judy O’Donnell, pediatric physical therapist at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Educational Developmental Intervention Services. “Physical activity gives them opportunities to learn how to move their bodies, gain confidence when they learn a challenging skill, and then build upon that skill.”
Along with physical activity, it is important to maintain a healthy diet for proper bone strengthening and development. The elementary years are the time to establish good eating habits, introduce healthy, nutritional foods and develop routines, which will preclude issues of obesity and other chronic diseases associated with unhealthy eating and sedentary lifestyles.
School-aged children six to 12 years old start having growth spurts, which can occur at different stages in each child. During this time their bones tend to grow more quickly than muscles and tendons, making stretching and warm up exercises crucial prior to physical activity to reduce chances of injury.
“Elementary school-aged children need many hours of active play each week,” said Stephen Ratz, physical education teacher at Vogelweh Elementary School. “Unfortunately, time needed for running, jumping and climbing is too often being filled with electronic entertainment. Parents can help their children be healthier by monitoring the amount of time their children spend sitting and being entertained.”
In promoting good skin, bone and muscle development, the Five Food Groups are important. Parents can let children participate in their own menu planning by letting them pick the foods they like. Parents can also help children make good choices by keeping healthy snacks available at home.
Some healthy food choices are fruits and vegetables, yogurt, peanut butter, celery, cheese and whole grain crackers. Limit fat intake by avoiding deep-fried foods. Parents should ensure that children are provided an iron-rich diet that includes beef, chicken, tuna and shrimp and an adequate amount of fiber for digestion and regularity. Limiting chips, dip, and candy instead of banning them and encouraging water and milk intake, rather than sugary drinks, helps children stick to a healthy, nutritional diet.
