Combine Reading and Physical Activity with Fitness Finders Tokens - National Read Across America Day

Blend the world of reading with the benefits of movement to create a more dynamic and engaging experience. 

In today's digital age, we often find ourselves glued to screens, whether it's for school, work, entertainment, or socializing. However, in this tech-heavy world, it's important to find ways to engage in activities that promote both mental and physical well-being. One creative and effective way to do this is by combining reading and physical activity. Not only can the method make reading more exciting, but it also helps children and adults stay active and energized while cultivating a love for books.

How You Can Blend Reading and Fitness

Combine achieving a reading milestone that corresponds with a fitness challenge. For instance, after completing a book, they can collect a token that encourages them to do a fun activity, such as jumping jacks, running, stretching, etc.

These challenges can be tied to the theme of the book - if the story is about sports, the fitness challenge could involve practicing that sport for 10 minutes. By participating in the Fitness Finders Reading Tokens, kids can stay active, energizing both their minds and bodies. It's a creative way to engage children with physical activity while cultivating a passion for reading.

Benefits of Reading and Being Active

1. Reading-Related Movement Breaks

Sitting for extended periods can lead to decreased focus and energy, especially when reading for a long time. Instead of sitting still, take regular movement breaks that are tied to the content of the book you're reading. Here are some fun ideas:

• Character-Based Movements: if the book features a character who is a runner, dancer, or athlete, take a break and mimic that character's movements. For example, if the book is about a runner, pause the reading session and go for a little jog, or do sprints for a few minutes before resuming the reading session.
• Interactive Challenge: after reading a chapter or finishing a book, incorporate a movement challenge. For instance, if the story is about a journey or adventure, create a challenge where the reader has to perform an activity that represents part of the adventure, such as climbing (using stairs or a safe structure), jumping, or walking a certain distance.
• Stretching: after every few pages or chapters, encourage readers to stretch their arms, legs, or back. Stretching helps reduce any discomfort from sitting and improves circulation, which can enhance focus when returning to the book. 

2. Active Reading Games

Children and adults alike love a little bit of friendly competition and fun. By turning reading sessions into an interactive game, you can combine literacy with exercise. Here are some examples of active reading games:

• Reading Relay: set up a reading relay race where participants take turns reading a page or a paragraph and then perform a physical task, such as jumping jacks, a short run, or a series of stretches before the next person can start reading. The goal is to get through the book while completing a certain number of physical tasks.
• Book Bingo: create a bingo card with words from the book along with physical activity such as "jump 10 times," "do a yoga pose," or "run in place for 30 seconds." As you read, listen for those words on your bingo cards and cross off the box after completing the activity associated with that word. This helps break up the monotony of sitting still and makes the reading process much more engaging. 
• Scavenger Hunt: if you're reading a non-fiction or nature-based book, create a scavenger hunt for physical items or outdoor activities based on the book's content. For example, if you're reading a book about nature, go outside and search for leaves, rocks, or birds, making it a way to physically connect with the story.

3. Themed Physical Activities Based on Books

Another exciting way to combine reading and physical activity is to design themed workouts inspired by the content of the book. This method works particularly well with children's books or any story that contains a lot of action.

• Superhero Workouts: if you're reading a book with a superhero character, use the story to inspire a superhero workout. Have kids (or adults) do activities like running, jumping, squats, and push-ups to mimic the movements of their favorite heroes. For example, "Superman Sprints" or "Spider-Man Wall Climbs" could be part of the fun.
• Animal-Themed Exercises: books with animals as main characters can inspire exercises based on the animals' movements. After reading about a kangaroo, jump like a kangaroo. After reading about a frog, do frog jumps. These exercises will get the body moving while staying connected to the book.
• Adventure Fitness: if you're reading an adventure or fantasy book, use the journey in the story to inspire a fitness routine. For example, if the characters are trekking through a jungle or climbing a mountain, create a workout that mimics this journey by including climbs (stairs or inclined surfaces), crawls, and jumps.

4. Audiobooks with Active Listening

For those who love to listen to books, combining audiobooks with physical activity can be a great way to stay fit while enjoying a good story. You can listen to audiobooks while doing activities like:

• Walking or Jogging: take your audiobook outdoors and go for a walk or job. Whether it's through the park or around your neighborhood, moving while listening keeps your body active and your mind engaged in the story.
• Cycling: you can also enjoy an audiobook while cycling. This is an easy way to get in some physical activity while losing yourself in a great story.
• Yoga or Stretching: listening to an audiobook while doing yoga or stretching allows you to stay centered and relaxed while absorbing the story's content.

5. Physical Rewards for Reading Milestones

For young readers or children, rewarding physical activity for reading milestones can be a great motivator. Create a system where children earn "rewarding tokens" or "fitness points" after completing a book or chapter. These tokens can then be traded for a specific physical activity challenge, such as:

• Dance Party: after finishing a chapter, let the reader have a dance party.
• Obstacle Course: create a fun obstacle course that the reader must complete as a reward for finishing a book.

By associating reading achievements with fun physical activities, children will be more motivated to read and will associate reading with positive experiences, both mentally and physically.

Why Combine Reading and Fitness?

Combining reading with physical activity is a winning formula for both mental and physical health. Research shows that physical activity enhances brain function, boosts concentration, and increases overall well-being. When children are encouraged to take breaks during reading to engage in short physical exercises, it helps them refocus and reinforces the idea that learning can be both fun and active.

Moreover, fitness activities like stretching, dancing, or simple aerobic exercises release endorphins that improve mood, making children more eager to dive back into their books. It also breaks the monotony of sedentary reading sessions and promotes the importance of movement, which is key in preventing the effects of a sedentary lifestyle, such as poor posture or low energy.

A Balanced Approach to Learning

National Read Across America Day is a fantastic opportunity to not only celebrate reading but also to introduce children to healthy habits. By incorporating tools like Fitness Finders Reading tokens and Fitness Tokens, we can create an exciting and balanced approach to both learning and fitness. Children are encouraged to read, engage in physical activities, and reflect on their experiences, making the celebration of reading both educational and energizing.

So, whether you're an educator, parent, or student, this March 2nd, let's celebrate National Read Across America Day with a twist of combining the power of reading with the benefits of physical activity. 

Wildlife Conservation Day: Protecting Animals and Their Homes

To animal lovers who are curious about the creatures we share our planet with, such as tigers, elephants, dolphins, penguins, and even tiny insects, this informational article will provide insight into Wildlife Conservation Day—a special day to celebrate, learn about, and protect our animal friends and the places they live. Let’s discover why this day is so important!

What is Wildlife Conservation?

Wildlife Conservation Day is observed every December 4th to raise awareness about protecting the world’s wildlife and their habitats. It’s a day dedicated to educating people about the threats animals face, such as habitat loss, poaching, climate change, and pollution, and to inspiring action to safeguard the Earth’s biodiversity. 

Why is Wildlife Important?

Every animal has an important role or a special job in nature. Some species and plants are called keystone species because they play a critical role in maintaining the balance of an ecosystem. Without them, the entire ecosystem could change drastically or collapse.

• Bees are vital pollinators, helping plants, flowers, and crops reproduce. This supports biodiversity and provides food for humans and animals.

• Elephants knock down trees and create open spaces, which help maintain grasslands, they spread seeds and promote plant growth.

• Jaguars are apex predators, they regulate populations of prey species, maintaining balance in the ecosystem.

• Wolves control the population of herbivores like deer and elk, which helps forests stay healthy by preventing overgrazing so plants, trees, and other animals can thrive.

• Fish clean rivers and oceans as they eat.

• Coral reefs provide shelter and food for thousands of marine species and protect coastlines from erosion.

• Sea otters eat sea urchins, which if left unchecked, can destroy kelp forests. Healthy kelp forests provide habitats for many marine animals and help absorb carbon dioxide.

Wildlife conservation means taking care of animals and their homes, like forests, oceans, and grasslands. Just like we need a safe place to live, food to eat, and water to drink, animals need those things too! Unfortunately, some animals are losing their homes because of problems like pollution, deforestation, or hunting. When that happens, animals become endangered or may lead to extinction.

When we protect animals, we’re also taking care of the earth because everything in nature is connected - like a big puzzle where every piece matters.

How Can We Help Wildlife?

You don’t have to be a grown-up to make a big difference for animals. Here are some fun and easy ways to help save the animals.

1. Learn and Spread Awareness

Research, read books, or watch videos about animals, the threats they face (poaching, habitat loss, and pollution), and their habitats. Tell your friends and family what you’ve learned to inspire others to take action.

2. Plant Trees or Flowers

Trees give birds, insects, and mammals shelter, while flowers help support pollinators like bees and butterflies.

3. Say No to Litter

Keep parks, beaches, and forests clean by picking up trash. Organize or join clean-up events in your community to remove litter. Dispose of trash and recyclables properly to prevent harm to animals.

4. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Cut down on waste to reduce pollution in natural habitats. Use less plastic, animals like turtles can mistake plastic for food, which is very dangerous for them. Recycle materials like paper and metal to decrease the need for mining and deforestation.

5. Support Conservation Projects

Ask your parents to help you donate to or volunteer with groups that protect animals such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), or local organizations in your area. Adopt an animal symbolically to contribute to wildlife protection efforts.

6. Avoid Buying Products Made From Wildlife

Refuse to buy items made from ivory, fur, shells, or other animal parts. Support ethical businesses that do not harm wildlife or their habitats.

7. Choose Sustainable Products

Buy sustainable sourced foods and materials, like palm oil or seafood, to reduce the destruction of rainforests and oceans. Look for certifications like “Fair Trade” or “Rainforest Alliance Certified.”

8. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Walk, bike, or carpool to reduce emissions contributing to climate change, which threatens many species. Save energy by turning off lights and using energy-efficient appliances.

How To Incentivize Kids To Learn About Wildlife?

1. Hands-On Activities

• Nature walks and scavenger Hunts

• DIY Wildlife Crafts

• Gardening for Wildlife

2. Engage Storytelling

• Wildlife Books and Movies

• Reading Program

• Animal Heroes

3. Games and Challenges

• Wildlife Trivia

• Animal Guessing Game

• Interactive Apps and Games

4. Virtual or Real-Life Experiences

• Zoo or Aquarium Visits

• Wildlife Cams

• Virtual Reality

5. Fun Rewards for Learning

• Wildlife Clubs or Certificates

• Animal Charm

• Adopt an Animal

• Personalized Wildlife Gear

6. Relatable Role Models

• Kid-Friendly Conservationists

• Animal Ambassadors

7. Foster Curiosity

• Fun Animal Facts

• Mystery Box

8. Make It Social

• Wildlife Art Content

• Wildlife Day events

9. Use Technology Creativity

• Wildlife Apps

• Interactive Maps

10. Emphasize The Connection

• Highlight Everyday Links

• Personalize The Message

Celebrate Nature Every Day!

Wildlife Conservation Day happens once a year, but we can care for animals and nature every single day. When we protect wildlife, we make the world a better place for everyone - animals, plants, and people too!

Every little action adds up when it comes to protecting wildlife. Whether it’s planting a tree, sharing a wildlife video with a friend, or choosing to recycle, you’re helping to create a better future for animals and their habitats.

The next time you see a bird flying, a bug crawling, or a fish swimming, remember: we all share this amazing planet, and it’s up to us to take care of it.

Improve Your Running Program By Recognizing Their Milestones

Toe Tokens® are everyone's favorite Mileage Club® award. They are so very effective in motivating kids to run instead of sitting during recess. Students are excited to collect every color of foot available.  And they get to wear a lanyard showing all of their friends how far they have run.

Now you can leverage the amazing motivational benefits of Toe Tokens with Milestone Awards!

Milestone Awards are for the long-term, bigger goals you help your students achieve.


Unlike Toe Tokens, which are meant to be earned by everyone, a Milestone Award is designed to be reached by the hardest working students. For the kids who refuse to miss a running day due to bad weather or those who request a makeup day following an illness. You will probably only have a few of these students in your program. These special “Milestones” are not intended to be reached by everyone.

Mileage Club Milestone Award Table

    Milestone Awards must be unique and special. Reaching difficult milestones deserves bigger awards. Because of this, we just added a new product to our lineup called the Snap-On Toe Token Charm. This award is larger than your standard toe token and is made of a rubberized material that is soft and pliable. 

The Snap-On Toe Token Charm is designed for encouragement and style! The patented snap technology makes it simple to snap on and snap off these awards on almost anything. This technology was originally designed to get away from the sharp pins used to hold a bib onto your shirt when running a road race. 

Show off these special Toe Tokens on your favorite clothing and accessories without the fear of ruining them! Snap it onto a shirt, watch bands, a backpack, a hat, or a shoe.   

Try our Snap-On Toe Token Charm for one of this season’s Milestone Awards for your top runners, and you will see your program "run" better than ever. 

A Reading Teachers' Motivational Tool

An Interview with Tina Slater, a Special Education Teacher

Name: Tina Slater

Position Title: Special Education Teacher

Grades: Fourth and Fifth Grades

School Name: Onsted Elementary School

Years Teaching: 27 years

Current Subjects: Reading, Math and Writing

How do you use tokens from Fitness Finders in your reading classroom?

In my reading resource classroom, students are awarded tokens after reading a leveled chapter book. Students are reading their chapter book for 10-15 minutes each day so it can take 8-12 days to complete a book. During reading, the student and I talk about the text and I listen to them read. When the book is complete, we meet to talk about the book and their reading success. During this time I present a token to commemorate their accomplishment. 

 

How do you choose which tokens to use?

When selecting the token to award, I try to match the token with the book the student has just completed. I have a variety of animals and objects to choose from. 

When students completed a book about Knights, I awarded them a key and a compass — which were two important objects from the Knights' Quest. They were thrilled! Sometimes it can be more difficult to make a match - in those cases, I may use the question mark token and make a connection with the predictions students made during reading or their use of expression when reading aloud. 

 

How do you distribute tokens?

Tokens are presented by me to students in a private ceremony. I actually make a big deal when presenting the token and make a mini-speech calling out the achievements the students made while reading the book and making connections between their reading success and the token. 

I am conferencing (video) with the student, but I am aware that others (family members) are listening. I try to call out as many positive reading behaviors as possible.

 

How do students display their tokens?

Students wear their tokens on lanyards during reading class (the laces from Fitness Finders). Each student selected their lanyard and the links (Lacelink) from the variety of colors and patterns Fitness Finders offers. 

When students aren’t wearing their necklaces they are displayed on hooks near our bookshelves. 

 

 

 Do you have a favorite token? 

I love all of the Animals! Our school mascot is the wildcat — so all of the cats and paws are a hit with my students. 

 

 How has this changed your classroom environment or impacted student motivation? 

Rewarding tokens has brought a bit more fun and provided a visual that represents student success.  I love it when I hear a student say, 

“I can’t believe I have read this much,” as they are putting on their necklace before class.

 

Can you share any stories or quotes from students while using tokens in your class?   

5th grader Emma said, 

“When we get rewarded with tokens, it just makes us want to read more and work harder. It makes everything more fun!”

 

Do you have any plans specifically for reading month?

During Reading Month, students will be earning double tokens and we will be celebrating Wildcats Read with drawings for extra tokens. I’ll also be taking pictures of students reading while wearing their token necklaces to send home with their progress reports in mid-March.

 

Why Does Fitness Finders® Use Incentive Awards?

Did you know that Fitness Finders® incentive based system is known as a token economy? Token economies feature cards, “tokens”, or money to encourage or deter behavior.

But why does a token economy work? Why do tokens encourage positive behavior and how has this model become so successful?

Tokens Are Earned

At the foundation of token economies is the understanding that an incentive must be earned, that not everyone gets it and therefore it has value. If every child received a Toe Token® for running, regardless of distance, the Toe Token® would lose some of its motivational power. 

For example, Fitness Finders® doesn’t sell Toe Tokens® to parents to be used as gifts because this dilutes the value of earning the award. 

Tokens Are Scarce

Tokens hold a lot of value when the student has accomplished something, and when everyone else knows what action they took to receive the token. Challenges and goals add to the incentive, but account for the development and ability of the students. It is important to set achievable but ambitious goals.

Tokens Are Fun

Our tokens work with children because they are fun. We offer over 600 unique awards in 180 different bright, eye-catching colors.

With so many variations, colors, and styles, token selection could easily get overwhelming. But don’t worry! We will happily help you find the perfect award for your situation, or let your students vote on tokens that they want to earn!

Charles Kuntzleman, Founder of Fitness Finders, said, “Select incentives that are visible, countable, attractive, and perceived as highly valuable by the recipients.”

Tokens Set the Stage for Lifelong Lessons

Not only are token encouraging in the present, but they can also motivate students into the future. To facilitate this lifelong impact, Kuntzleman suggests periodically reminding students of the importance of the activity behind the token. This means communicating why the desired behavior is beneficial in life and how it can impact students in a positive way.

Even if the students remain focused on tokens in the moment, they will look back one day and remember the lessons emphasized.

At the end of the day, the desired behavior is the ultimate goal. Tokens just happen to be a fun, motivational, and inexpensive way to increase participation and effort. So get some tokens and tackle those goals!

Celebrate Students' Mileage Club® Accomplishments!

The end of the school year is almost here! Yay! Now is a great time to plan an awesome Mileage Club® celebration. Whether your program is in the Spring, Fall, or both - you have the opportunity to give a final hurrah to another successful year of fun, hard work, and achieving goals.

Here are some ideas to make your Mileage Club® celebration extra special.

Soup Up the Setting

We suggest organizing a schoolwide assembly to cap off Mileage Club® for the year. Public recognition is a fantastic way to motivate students for future years and it will mean the world to them to be recognized in front of their peers. 

Go all out, and utilize available resources such as the sound system, lighting, and stage. This is also a great time to recognize and thank any teachers or parents who volunteered to make Mileage Club® successful throughout the school year!

We think it’s important to take advantage of any opportunity to remind students that exercise and being active go hand-in-hand with academics! You can also use this time for other end-of-the-year recognition, as well. For example, you could announce Field Day results or celebrate any student successes in the classroom.

Amp Up the Awards

Toe Tokens® is an excellent and proven motivator throughout the season, but how about some fresh awards to end the school year on a high note? We have an amazing assortment of awards to choose from: Mileage Club® tee shirts, water bottles, sports packs, dog tags, wristbands, pencils, baseball caps, and more.

Finding reasons to recognize won’t be difficult; your students have been working hard!

Outstanding Mileage Club® Achievements

Outstanding achievements can be awarded to exceptional participants who go above and beyond – in a variety of areas:

• Recognize outstanding amounts of accumulated mileage by awarding Mileage Club® T-shirts and Baseball Caps to the top three performing boys and girls.
• Recognize outstanding consistency by awarding the student with the best Mileage Club® attendance record with a Mileage Club® Sport Bottle. “You’ve gotta show up to go up!”
• Recognize outstanding selflessness by awarding a Mileage Club® Sport Pack to the students who volunteer to help keep Mileage Club® on track or who always have an encouraging word to say to their peers.

Goals Met

The process of setting a goal and working hard to achieve it without giving up is an important life skill that will benefit your students for their whole lives. Depending on your program, goals might have a large or small scope:

• Individual Goal

Award all students who meet their goal. Your enthusiasm, encouragement, and recognition will inspire them to come back next year and shoot even higher! Great rewards for meeting individual goals include a pair of colorful Shoelaces, Walk-a-Long™ Wristbands, or Water Bottles.

• Class Goal

If the whole class sets and meets a season goal, then everyone gets an award! Popular class rewards include Toe Token® Folders, Mileage Cups, and Mileage Club® Training Medals. Be sure to take a picture of the class to put on the Mileage Club® bulletin board for next year!

• School Goal

A school goal can be a great way to motivate all students to participate. If the goal is met, each participant gets to partake in the excitement and recognition. Students who didn’t join in this year will definitely want to run next year and be a part of the team! Fun, yet economical school-wide awards include Mileage Club® Pencils or Mood Pencils, Mileage Club® Wristbands, Mileage Club® Feat awards, or Mileage Club® Dog Tags.

We hope these ideas are helpful. 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your school’s specific needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@fitnessfinders.net or 800-789-9255. 

We hope you have a great end-of-the-year celebration. 

We can’t wait to partner with you again next year!