5 Ways To Keep Kids Fit & Active This Summer!

With Increased Technology Comes Decreased Activity

Children are spending more and more time on a tablet, in front of the television, or on a video game system. Kids love the newest devices, apps, movies, and television shows. These tools of entertainment can be a great source of fun and enjoyment. However, they have the potential to negatively affect a child’s health by limiting movement.

 
With summer around the bend, our students and youth are going to be less likely to be outside than 10 or 15 years ago because of these forms of entertainment. The National Summer Learning Association says that 

“Children gain weight two or three times faster during summer vacation than during the school year.” 

When children are in school they are constantly supervised, and their diet and activity are monitored. In the summer, it is easy for a student to slip into the routine of electronic entertainment and snacking while their physical health gets set aside. Here are 5 ideas for helping children stay fit and active.

 Alternatives to Summer-Time Sluggishness 

1.    Join a Club or Team

Children will not only have a reason to get fit, but they will also be learning valuable life lessons and building strong relationships along the way. Swim clubs are a huge hit in the summer, and baseball is in full swing along with many other camps and training. Through practices and games, students will get plenty of needed activity.

2. Summer Camps

Summer camps, like the ones offered through your local YMCA, provide supervision and criteria to keep children eating healthier and staying fit. They’ll build friendships, learn new skills, and build a stronger body to keep them healthy. A summer camp can be a great way to build memories and a strong foundation of physical health in a fun way.

3. Teach Healthy Eating

As well as minimizing the amounts of unhealthy snacks in the household, teach young children about healthy food alternatives. If your children know about the risks of eating unhealthy foods to excess, they will be more likely to make better snack choices. Make this a fun activity while shopping in the grocery store or through an educational program.

 

4. Limit Screen Time

Limiting the time children spend in front of electronic devices (phones, iPads, TV, Xbox, etc.) is key to keeping them entertained in healthier ways during the summer. Making time spent with electronics equal to the time they spend doing something active can be helpful. Show them that adventures are waiting to be discovered outside a screen, and connect with them through conversation and play.

 

5. Get Active with Children

If you lead with a positive example, children are more likely to follow in your footsteps. Show them that being active can be fun in various ways. Go for a hike, follow the leader, do chores together, play outdoor games like hide and seek, garden together, or go to the park and play. There are plenty of online sources that offer creative games that include no equipment and will get kids moving.

Make this a summer to remember for both you and the children in your care. With children's metabolisms potentially slowing over the summer, making physical activity fun again can be a major solution to the problem. Get students and children moving this summer so that they can return to a new school year feeling healthier and more confident than ever!

Should Kids Run Marathons?

In 2016, Charlie Westrip set the 6-year-old male record with his half marathon time of 2:06:51. In 2014, Heather Welsch set the 11-year-old female half marathon record with a time of 1:31:23.

These outlier feats of speed and endurance are impressive, unusual, and extreme. We do not want to dissuade children from running far and fast if that brings them joy. But we do want to emphasize the importance of moderation and personal enjoyment in the activity.

Moderation

Many children love to climb trees. Climbing trees is not a dangerous activity in and of itself, but it has the potential to be harmful if children climb high beyond the bounds of common sense.

The same is true for children running great distances. If a child loves to run that is wonderful! However, miles accrued must be sensible as they can affect growing bodies.

Running marathons at 6 will not necessarily prepare a child to compete in an Olympic Marathon at 20. In most cases, Fitness Finders® recommends accruing marathon distances over multiple running sessions, thereby achieving the accomplishment without the same physical toll.

Greg Meyer, a sub-four-minute miler who went on to win the Detroit, Boston, and Chicago Marathons in the 1980’s, says “Success does not have to be some big success that takes weeks to accomplish, but little successes every day; those that will give children a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and confidence.”

Personal Enjoyment

Douglas Finley, Editor, for the Center for Children’s Running, wrote, “Success will be different for each child. For some, it will be simply finishing a run. For others, it may be running farther or faster than last time or mastering some new skill like passing off a relay baton. For yet others, it is as simple as being recognized for their effort, for showing great determination, for just doing their best. If the child sets too lofty a goal, it is the responsibility of the parent/coach to suggest taking little steps to reach that goal, each step offering the child an opportunity to experience a level of personal accomplishment.”

Running should facilitate a love of physical activity in children, a love of movement. By encouraging youth to run for enjoyment and health, you set the stage for their life-long approach to exercise. And by setting attainable, individual, and appropriate goals, you can enable each young runner to shine.

So, should kids run marathons? Some will. Set attainable, sensible goals that all your students can work for and celebrate. Create those everyday successes that build accomplishment, satisfaction, and confidence.

Zooper Safari: Fitness Finders Classroom Management Program to Teach Students Positive Classroom Behaviors

Have you heard about Zooper Safari™? It’s Fitness Finders®new classroom management program that uses 7 cute Featured Creatures to teach students positive classroom behaviors. Zooper Safari™ emphasizes foundational behavioral skills, (Zooper Behaviors) that benefit children now and as they grow into teenagers and adults. 

These Zooper Behaviors include:

1. Have a Positive Attitude
2. Stay on Track
3. Listen and Follow Instructions
4. Take Initiative
5. Put Things in Order
6. Think of Others
7. Work with Others

Lifelong Learners

If you look at the Zooper Behaviors out of context, you might conclude that they are for a job description. That is exactly the point! These skills are directly applicable to students now and as they mature and enter adulthood. The same Zooper Behaviors that create a positive classroom atmosphere are directly transferable to work, family, and leisure activities. And Zooper Safari™ makes it fun to learn these skills!

By emphasizing these Zooper Behaviors early in children’s schooling, you can put students on a fast track to successful, satisfied lives. Plus, by improving the classroom environment in the present, students have the greatest opportunity to learn academically.

Why Zooper Safari™ Works for Children

We have specifically designed Zooper Safari™ to appeal to the minds of elementary school students. The lessons are engaging, participation is encouraged, and fun visuals are included – like video clips of the Featured Creature showcasing their Zooper Behavior in their natural habitat.

“Zooper Safari™ takes something that most kids already love – cute animals – and associates positive classroom behaviors with those animals,” said Lissa Strodtbeck, Curriculum Editor. “This helps the kids remember the Zooper Behavior, and encourages them to adopt/emulate the positive behavior themselves.”

Ready to improve your classroom learning environment while priming students with lifelong skills? Zooper Safari™ is available for purchase this Fall 2017, so start planning your safari now!

To learn more about Zooper Safari™ and read customer testimonials, check out our blog, Discover How Fitness Finders Can Help Tame Your Classroom!

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!

Recommendations for Mileage Club® Frequency and Scheduling

It’s never too early to start planning your Mileage Club® season! That’s why we are using this blog to talk about recommended running frequency and Mileage Club® scheduling tips.

Keep the Climate in Mind

Weather is an important factor in Mileage Club® planning. If you live in a state where it rains relentlessly, consider scheduling Mileage Club® more frequently. If you’re scheduled to run every day, and it rains three out of five days, then at least you get two days a week to run the program. Even if it doesn’t rain, it’s okay for the kids to run every day, according to Debbie Drake, Fitness Finders’ Mileage Club® Coordinator.

“It is okay to run every day as long as it is fun and the students aren’t pressured."

- Drake

Also, consider the season. Is it super-hot in August? Is it snowy in December? Is it just right in September? The better you know your state and your climate, the better you can plan!

School Schedule

Be sure to consider holidays, recess time, and your school year schedule in your planning. Every school does things a little bit differently, so there’s no rigid format that works best for all. Try to pick a time of the year when you can stick to the same weekly schedule for most of the program. Finding a consistent pattern will help Mileage Club® gain traction and popularity among the students.

Available Volunteers

Is there a time of year when teachers or parents seem to have more time? (What a pleasant fiction!) If enthusiastic volunteers are crucial to program success, there is value in factoring them into your planning. Keep in mind that the better the weather the more plentiful the volunteers, so plan your season strategically!

Above all remember that no matter the weather and no matter who shows up, Mileage Club® is about the students, and helping them have fun and reach their goals. Plan for greatness.

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!