5 Tips to Encourage Girls to Get into Sports

Sports can be life-changing for kids, offering confidence, teamwork skills, and lifelong healthy habits. Yet research shows that girls are more likely than boys to drop out of sports as they get older. That's why parents, teachers, and coaches play such an important role in creating supportive opportunities that make athletics fun and rewarding.

Here are five practical tips to encourage girls to get into sports - and stay active for years to come.

1. Create a Positive and Inclusive Environment

Girls thrive in sports when they feel welcomed and valued. Make sure practice and games emphasize encouragement, effort, and growth rather than just competition. Celebrate small wins, like improved effort, teamwork, or skill-building.

Idea: Use tokens or charms as fun recognition awards for effort - like a "Star Token" for teamwork or a "Strong Spirit" charm for trying something new.

2. Highlight Role Models

Representation matters. Share stories of successful female athletes, whether they're local high school players, college athletes, or Olympic stars. Girls are more inspired to participate when they see people like them succeeding.

In the classroom or gym, create a "Wall of Inspiration" where you highlight female athletes and pair it with motivational tokens or awards for students who embody similar qualities.

3. Make Sports Fun and Social

For many girls, sports are just as much about friendship as fitness. Organize group activities that emphasize fun - like relay races, themed practices, or playful challenges. Build opportunities for laughter and connection alongside skill development.

Fun runs, obstacle courses, or "theme days" (pirates, superheroes, neon) are great ways to spark excitement.

4. Listen to Their Interests

Not every girl will gravitate toward the same sport. Give them a voice in choosing what activities they want to try, whether that's soccer, dance, track, swimming, or martial arts. By offering options, you show them their opinions matter and increase the likelihood they'll find something they enjoy.

Encourage girls to set their own goals and celebrate milestones with keepsake charms or bracelets as reminders of their progress.

5. Recognize and Celebrate Achievements

Recognition goes a long way toward building confidence. A simple award can remind a girl that her effort is valued. Whether it's a certificate, token, or medal, acknowledgment motivates her to keep moving forward.

Fitness Finders offers a wide range of achievement awards - from colorful tokens to medals - that can be used to mark milestones and encourage long-term participation.

Create a Supportive Environment to Support Girls

Encouraging girls to get into sports is about more than building athletic skills - it's about giving them confidence, a sense of belonging, and a healthy lifestyle that lasts well into adulthood. By creating supportive environments, highlighting role models, making sports fun, listening to interests, and celebrating achievements, you can inspire the next generation of strong, confident athletes.

Explore Fitness Finders tokens, charms, and awards to help motivate and recognize every achievement along the way!

5 Ways to Make Your School’s Fun Run Unforgettable with Achievement Awards

A school fun run is more than just a fundraiser or fitness challenge - it's an opportunity to build community, celebrate student effort, and inspire kids to develop lifelong healthy habits. While the run itself is exciting, what truly makes it memorable are the little touches that motivate students and honor their achievements.

At Fitness Finders, we know that recognition fuels motivation. When kids feel seen for their hard work, they're more likely to stay engaged, build confidence, and develop a positive attitude toward fitness. That's where fun awards and achievement tokens come in!

Here are five creative ways to make your school's fun run unforgettable:

1. Kick Things Off with Pre-Run Motivation

Set the tone early by giving every participant a starter token or charm when they sign up. For example, a sneaker charm or fun run ribbon builds excitement and helps kids feel part of something special before race day.

Tip: Use tokens to track participation in pre-run training or fitness challenges leading up to the big event.

2. Celebrate Milestones During the Run

Kids thrive when they see their progress in real time. Hand out milestone tokens for laps completed or minutes spent moving. Each token becomes a small, tangible reminder of their achievement.

• Star Charms for each lap
• Brightly colored foot tokens to clip onto shoelaces or lanyards
• A special glow-in-the-dark token for the final lap to make it extra memorable

3. Spotlight Team Spirit

Fun runs aren't only about individual performance - they're also about building community. Recognize classrooms or grade levels for achievements like:

• Best Team Spirit (class with the most cheering)
• Most Creative Outfits (pirate, superhero, or rainbow themes are always a hit!)
• Strongest Effort as a Team (everyone completes the run together)

Award a classroom banner, trophy, or set of charms they can proudly display.

4. Make Finishing Feel Like Victory

Crossing the finish line should feel like a true accomplishment, whether it's the first or last student. Give each runner a Fun Run Medal or custom charm as they finish. These awards become keepsakes that remind them of their hard work and perseverance.

5. Create Lasting Memories with Keepsakes

After the event, surprise students with a certificate of achievement paired with the tokens they earned. Encourage them to collect their charms on a bracelet, shoelace, or lanyard so they can look back proudly on their fitness journey.

Consider giving teachers a small set of extra tokens to hand out in the weeks after the event for continued motivation.

Making Your School's Fun Run Unforgettable

Your school's fun run is more than a day of activity - it's a chance to celebrate effort, teamwork, and resilience. By incorporating achievement awards like tokens, charms, medals, and certificates, you turn a simple event into a cherished memory for every child.

At Fitness Finders, we're here to help you make your fun run unforgettable. From lap-tracking tokens to special recognition awards, we offer the perfect tools to motivate, inspire, and celebrate your students.

Browse our Fun Run Awards & Tokens Collection and start planning your most memorable event yet!

Make Your School Fun Run Unforgettable with Fitness Finders Awards

A school fun run is more than just kids running laps - it's a celebration of movement, teamwork, and community. Whether you're hosting your first fun run or looking to elevate your annual event, the key to making it truly unforgettable lies in one word: motivation.

At Fitness Finders, we specialize in helping schools get kids moving - and loving it. Our tools and resources make organizing a fun run easy, engaging, and rewarding.

What Does Fitness Finders Offer?

We provide schools with proven programs and motivational tools that get kids excited about physical activity:

• Mileage Club: A nationally recognized walking/running program used in thousands of schools to build healthy habits through consistent movement.
• Toe Tokens: Small, colorful shoe charms earned for distance milestones - kids love to collect and wear them proudly.
• EZ Scan: A user-friendly lap tracking system that makes managing events like fun runs simple and efficient - no clipboards or counting required!

Together, these tools turn an ordinary fun run into an organized, exciting, and memory-making event for every student.

Why Use Fitness Finders for Your School Fun Run?

Whether you're planning a field day finale, a fundraiser, or a wellness week highlight, a school fun run is a fantastic way to encourage fitness and build school spirit. But what really makes it shine?

Structure + Motivation + Celebration = Success

Here's how Fitness Finders brings those elements to life:

1. Use Mileage Club to Build Momentum

Mileage Club is a simple, flexible walking/running program that helps students set goals and track their progress. It's easy to implement before your fun run as a training challenge, or during the event as a way to track and celebrate each lap.

How to Use it for a Fun Run:

• Start a "Countdown to the Fun Run" challenge during recess or PE
• Let students accumulate miles or laps in the weeks leading up to the event
• Use this progress as motivation - "Can we reach 100 miles as a class before race day?"

Bonus: You're creating healthy habits that last well beyond the event.

2. Reward Participation with Toe Tokens

Every lap or mile becomes a mini celebration when students know they'll earn a Toe Token. These brightly colored charms can be added to shoes or backpacks and serve as a badge of accomplishment.

Ideas for Use:

• Give a different color token per lap or mile
• Award themed tokens for event completion or personal bests
• Let students build token "chains" to wear during the event - an instant confidence booster!

These tokens not only boost motivation but also provide a physical representation of hard work, which is incredibly impactful for elementary and middle school students.

3. Organize Seamlessly with EZ Scan

Forget paper tally sheets and counting laps by hand - EZ Scan is your best friend on race day.

How it Works:

Each student receives a unique QR code card

As they complete laps, they scan their card using a smartphone or tablet

Laps are automatically recorded and can be viewed or exported later

Why It's Perfect for Fun Runs:

Reduces the need for extra volunteers or manual counting

Gives you real-time data for awards and recognition

Works with any number of students, from a small class to the entire school!

Make It Memorable: Awards, Themes, and Community Involvement

Now that you have the tools, here are a few creative ways to make your fun run a school-wide celebration:

Theme Ideas:

• Superhero Sprint
• Color Dash
• Glow Run
• Read & Run Literacy Lap (tie into book week!)

Award Categories:

• Most Laps Completed
• Best Sportsmanship
• Best Costume
• Class with the Most Collective Miles
• Personal Improvement Awards

Involve Families:

• Invite parents to run or volunteer
• Offer family lap challenges
• Celebrate with post-run popsicles or photo booths

Ready to Plan Your Fun Run? Time to Make it Happen

Planning a school fun run doesn't have to be overwhelming - it should be energizing and fun for everyone involved. With the right tools in place, you can create an event that motivates students, builds community, and encourages lifelong healthy habits.

Fitness Finders gives you the framework to make it happen:

Mileage Club = structure and long-term motivation

Toe Tokens = excitement and reward

EZ Scan = stress-free organization and tracking

So this year, don't just run - run with purpose, run with pride, and run with Fitness Finders.

Explore awards, learn more about Mileage Club, and try out EZ Scan at Fitnessfinders.net

Let's make your next school fun run the best one yet!

Empowering Young Minds: Celebrating Women’s Health & Fitness Day in Schools and Homes

Women's Health and Fitness Day, celebrated on the last Wednesday of September, is more than just a chance to recognize the importance of physical activity for women - it's an opportunity to inspire young students to develop healthy habits, build self-esteem, and understand the lifelong benefits of staying active.

For teachers, educators, and parents, this day can serve as a powerful platform to talk about the importance of physical health, mental wellness, and self-care.

When we empower young girls and boys to prioritize their health at a young age, we lay the foundation for a lifetime of well-being. It's also a perfect opportunity to connect students to platforms like Fitness Finders, a resource that helps them discover fun, age-appropriate activities, track progress, and set achievable goals - all while learning valuable life skills along the way.

In this blog, we'll explore how you can utilize Women's Health and Fitness Day to promote healthy living in the classroom and at home, creating an environment where students are motivated to take charge of their fitness journeys.

Why Women's Health & Fitness Day Matters for Students

Health is not just about staying active - it's about creating a mind-body connection that promotes confidence, resilience, and overall wellness. Especially in adolescence, this is a critical period when young people begin to form habits that can last a lifetime. Whether it's improving physical fitness, boosting mental well-being, or promoting positive body image, Women's Health and Fitness Day is a valuable opportunity to inspire young students to view fitness as a holistic part of their lives.

For young girls, understanding the connection between physical health and mental well-being is particularly important. During adolescence, many young girls experience fluctuating body images, self-esteem issues, and peer pressure. Physical activity helps combat these challenges by releasing endorphins, which improve mood, and helping kids feel empowered in their own bodies. 

For boys, Women's Health and Fitness Day also presents an opportunity to support their understanding of wellness as a whole-body concept - teaching them to value fitness, nutrition, and mental health as parts of a balanced lifestyle.

Using Fitness Finders to Encourage Health and Wellness

Fitness Finders is more than just a fitness platform - it's a tool for empowerment that helps students set fitness goals, track their progress, and discover activities they genuinely enjoy. Whether you're teaching health and wellness in the classroom or guiding your children at home, Fitness Finders can serve as an engaging resource for making fitness fun, accessible, and educational.

Here are some ways you can use Fitness Finders to encourage health and fitness on Women's Health and Fitness Day:

1. Introduce Fitness as Fun and Accessible for Everyone

When it comes to health, making fitness fun is essential. Especially for younger students or those just beginning to think about fitness, it's important to highlight that exercise isn't a one-size-fits-all concept. Fitness Finders offers a wide range of age-appropriate workouts and activities, from dance and yoga to strength training and outdoor challenges.

For younger children, fun activities like obstacle courses or dance parties can show them that staying active doesn't always mean going to the gym or following a rigid routine - it can also mean playing, moving, and enjoying life! By framing fitness as enjoyable and empowering, you'll help kids develop a positive relationship with exercise from an early age.

2. Track Progress and Build Motivation

One of the biggest challenges for young students when it comes to fitness is staying motivated. That's where goal-setting comes in! Fitness Finders offers features that allow kids to set small, achievable goals - whether it's completing a workout routine, learning a new sport, or improving endurance. Tracking their progress and celebrating milestones encourages a sense of accomplishment and boosts self-confidence. 

For example, you could encourage students to participate in a school-wide fitness challenge, such as a step challenge or run a mile day, where each student tracks their progress on Fitness Finders. Offering recognition for personal bests, no matter how small, fosters a positive and encouraging atmosphere.

3. Help Students Set Healthy, Achievable Goals

Whether you're guiding your students in the classroom or helping your own children at home, goal setting is a powerful tool for teaching personal growth. For high schoolers, this could mean setting fitness goals that tie into their physical education curriculum or broader wellness objectives. For younger children, you could focus on simple and fun goals like "Do 10 jumping jacks every morning" or "Try a new sport this month."

Fitness Finders can help students set specific goals (like "do 15 minutes of exercise three times a week") and track their achievements over time. Small, attainable goals help students stay motivated, build confidence, and develop healthy habits they can carry with them throughout life.

Fun Ways to Celebrate Women's Health and Fitness Day in Schools and at Home

Here are some practical ideas for making Women's Health and Fitness Day meaningful for students of all ages:

1. Host a Fitness Class or Activity Hour

Organize a fitness hour or a fun fitness challenge to get students moving and engaged. You could invite them to try new activities, such as:

• Yoga sessions for stress relief
• Dance-offs or Zumba routines for high energy
• Circuit training with a mix of exercises like jumping jacks, push-ups, and squats

For younger students, try creating a movement scavenger hunt or organizing a friendly race. For high schoolers, you can dive deeper into structured workouts that focus on strength, flexibility, and endurance.

2. Empower Through Education: Discuss Body Positivity and Wellness

Women's Health and Fitness Day isn't just about physical fitness - it's also an opportunity to discuss the importance of mental health and body positivity. Especially for teenagers, it's crucial to address how fitness can be a source of empowerment rather than a way to achieve a certain appearance. Have open discussions about:

• The benefits of fitness for mental clarity and self-esteem.
• How exercise can combat anxiety, stress, and depression.
• The importance of building a positive body image.

These conversations will help students connect the dots between physical activity and overall well-being.

3. Set Up a Wellness and Fitness Challenge

Encourage students to participate in a wellness challenge using Fitness Finders! You could create a school-wide or class-wide challenge that encourages kids to:

• Complete a certain number of fitness activities over the month.
• Track their sleep, nutrition, and exercise habits
• Share their progress and celebrate their achievements in the classroom.

Incentivize participation with rewards or recognition, and make sure to celebrate both individual and group accomplishments.

4. Highlight Female Role Models in Fitness

Use Women's Health and Fitness Day to spotlight inspiring women in fitness - whether they're athletes, community leaders, or fitness experts. Share stories, videos, or articles that showcase how these women have balanced their fitness with other aspects of life. Highlighting positive female role models will not only motivate young girls but will also help boys understand the importance of supporting women's health and empowerment.

Inspiring the Next Generation to Prioritize Wellness

Women's Health & Fitness Day offers a valuable opportunity for educators and parents to promote wellness, body positivity, and fitness among young students. Whether you're teaching high schoolers about goal-setting or encouraging younger kids to move and explore new activities, it's important to foster an environment that values health as a lifelong journey.

By incorporating tools like Fitness Finders, you can help students find fitness activities that they enjoy, set meaningful goals, and track their progress over time - while building confidence, resilience, and a love for movement. Let's use this day as a springboard to inspire students to prioritize their health, now and in the future.

National Day of Encouragement: Empowering Kids to Thrive with Fitness and Positivity

Every year on September 12th, the National Day of Encouragement is celebrated to remind us of the power of positivity and the impact that encouragement can have on individuals, especially children. For teachers, educators, and parents, this day offers a unique opportunity to inspire and motivate young minds, fostering a sense of confidence, well-being, and resilience.

What better way to tie this day of encouragement into something active and engaging than by using resources like Fitness Finders? By promoting physical activity, mental wellness, and personal growth, we can teach kids not only to believe in themselves but to take care of their bodies and minds too. 

In this blog, we'll explore how the National Day of Encouragement can be linked to health and fitness, offering practical ways educators and parents can use this day to boost kids' motivation and set them up for a lifetime of healthy habits.

The Power of Encouragement: Why it Matters for Kids

Encouragement plays a crucial role in shaping a child's self-esteem, motivation, and ability to persevere through challenges. Studies show that children who are encouraged and praised for their efforts - rather than just their results - develop a growth mindset, which can help them tackle obstacles and keep trying even when things get tough.

On National Day of Encouragement, take the time to acknowledge and celebrate the small victories in your students' lives. Whether they've learned a new skill, improved in a sport, or simply made progress in their academic work, recognition of these efforts can go a long way in boosting their confidence.

But encouragement doesn't just apply to academic success - it's also essential when it comes to physical activity and healthy habits. For kids, learning the importance of moving their bodies and staying active is key to setting them up for long-term wellness.

Linking Encouragement with Fitness: Using Fitness Finders to Inspire Healthy Lifestyles

As we encourage students to stay positive, why not combine it with a commitment to physical fitness? This is where Fitness Finders can play a huge role. Fitness Finders is a fantastic resource designed to help kids explore different types of physical activities, set personal fitness goals, and track their progress. It's all about making fitness fun, accessible, and something to be proud of - aligning perfectly with the core values of National Day of Encouragement.

Here's how you can connect the two:

1. Encourage Movement as a Way to Build Confidence

On National Day of Encouragement, challenge your students to set small, achievable fitness goals using Fitness Finders. Whether it's doing 10 jumping jacks, running a mile, or learning a new dance routine, encourage them to track their progress and celebrate each milestone. The key here is to praise their, effort and perseverance, not just the outcome. Fitness Finders provides a way for kids to see their progress over time, boosting their sense of accomplishment.

For example, a teacher could host a Fitness Challenge Day where students try different fitness activities such as yoga, basketball, or a quick circuit workout. As kids complete each activity, encourage them with positive affirmation like, "You're doing great!" or "Keep going - you're almost there!" This reinforces the idea that trying is just as important as succeeding.

2. Building Positive Mindsets through Physical Activity

Physical exercise doesn't just benefit the body - it's also crucial for mental health. Studies show that exercise can improve mood, reduce stress, and boost self-esteem. On National Day of Encouragement, incorporate activities that help students connect with their bodies in a positive way. You could organize a mindfulness movement session, where students practice simple breathing exercises combined with gentle stretching or yoga, all designed to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Fitness Finders offers a variety of activities suitable for different age groups, from playful games for younger children to more structured fitness routines for older students to engage with fitness as a lifelong habit, not a chore.

3. Setting Team Goals for Collective Success

In addition to individual fitness goals, encourage students to work together in teams. Team-based activities not only promote social skills and teamwork, but they also help children learn how to encourage and support one another. For instance, you could set up a class-wide fitness goal - for example, aiming to collectively walk or run a certain number of miles by the end of the month. Fitness Finders can be used to track the group's progress, allowing students to see how their efforts contribute to the bigger picture.

As students reach milestones, you can celebrate with group shout-outs or even a Fitness Finders recognition board, where the team's progress is displayed for everyone to see. This fosters a sense of pride and shared accomplishment.

4. Encouraging Healthy Habits Beyond Fitness

Fitness isn't just about exercise - it's also about encouraging kids to build healthy habits in every area of life. National Day of Encouragement is a great time to talk about the importance of a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and taking care of one's emotional well-being. By linking these habits to the idea of self-care and personal growth, we can create a more holistic approach to health.

For example, have students set a personal health goal alongside their fitness goal. Maybe it's drinking more water each day or getting eight hours of sleep. Use the Fitness Finders platform to track not just physical activity, but also progress in other areas of wellness, such as hydration, sleep, and mental well-being.

Fun Ideas to Celebrate National Day of Encouragement in the Classroom or at Home

To make National Day of Encouragement truly impactful for students, incorporate these fun ideas into your lessons or home routines:

• Encouragement Wall: Create a "Wall of Encouragement" in your classroom where students can write positive messages to one another. These can be compliments, notes of support, or simply words of encouragement like "You're awesome!" or "Keep trying!" 
• Compliment Circles: In a circle, have each student give a compliment or encouraging word to the person next to them. This helps build confidence and strengthens the sense of community.
• Personal Progress Charts: Use the Fitness Finders app or printable charts to let students track their fitness and wellness goals over time. Recognize their progress at regular intervals and celebrate their achievements together.
• Fitness Class Breaks: Host short physical activity breaks during the day. Incorporate fun activities like dancing, stretching, or quick outdoor games. Encourage everyone to participate, no matter their skill level, and offer plenty of praise along the way.

Empowering Students to Reach Their Potential

National Day of Encouragement is the perfect occasion to inspire your students and kids, reminding them of their unlimited potential. By incorporating fitness, movement, and wellness into the day's activities, you can foster an environment where students feel supported, motivated, and encouraged to take care of both their minds and bodies.

Using tools like Fitness Finders, educators and parents can help students set realistic fitness goals, stay active, and build confidence - all while fostering a positive mindset that encourages perseverance, effort, and personal growth.

So, as you celebrate National Day of Encouragement, let's not just encourage our students to dream big but to take action toward those dreams - one healthy, active step at a time!

By using the combination of encouragement, fitness, and tools like Fitness Finders, we can set children on a path to success, both physically and mentally. With your guidance and support, this National Day of Encouragement can be a turning point in their journey toward healthy habits and a positive mindset.