Stay healthy, learn better

Coaches Kent Grosshuesch, Glenn Porter and Hia Sebastian
Ramstein American High School

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, which is an
important time for a reminder that “Healthy, Physically Active Children
Learn Better!” In a time of increasing health risks and health care
costs in our country, prevention is a key and exemplary physical
education programs must be part of the solution.

Quality K-12 physical education programs help children gain the
knowledge, skills and confidence that promote lifelong physical
activity. The focus of physical education has shifted from competition
to performance and personal challenges, individualized instruction,
high levels of fitness that support good health, and exposure to a wide
variety of lifetime activities. Children also learn by example. If
parents enjoy and participate in physical activity, so will their
children! Children and adolescents should spend at least 60 minutes
every day in a variety of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
Maintaining healthy bodies is not only vital for physical well-being,
but for mental and emotional development as well. Schedule a regular
time throughout the week for your family to be physically active.
Select fitness-oriented gifts and reward children with activity rather
than food. Keeping children and youth turned on to physical activity is
another challenge facing parents. That is why it is also important to
help children explore a wide variety of physical activities to
determine what they like and then encourage them to participate in
those activities on a regular basis. With more inactive and overweight
children than ever before, it is critically important for the future of
our country that schools and families work together to promote quality,
fun physical activity opportunities for everyone.