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Featured
Health & Fitness Sites
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Substance
Abuse
Approximately
one in four American kids comes from a family where alcohol is abused
or alcoholism is present. Alcoholism affects everyone in a
family, not just the drinker. The national program, Al-Anon
is dedicated to helping family members learn about alcoholism and
cope with a practicing alcoholic or a recovering alcoholic.
Their website provides several links to low cost pamphlets,
booklets, and resources that can be
used in referals or in educatonal settings.
Click
here to join the
Bulletin
Board for PE & Health Teachers
Drunk
Driving
Mothers
Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a very good resource for personalizing
drunk driving. They have fairly recent statistics on rates,
numbers of DWI crashes, etc. Local chapters can be found at
this MADD
website link. You can also obtain great regional
statistics on DWIs on your area.
Alcoholism
Prevention & Treatment
NCADD
has a web link dedicated entirely to prevention of alcoholism
among teens and kids. Topics include
"Why
It's Important to Prevent Kids from Drinking"
Myths
About Kids & Drinking and What should I Tell My Child
About Drinking?"
Drinking
and Driving Prevention
Anytime
we hear about teens working to prevent drunk driving it's a good
thing. The National Students Against Drunk Driving SADD
website features information on grassroots efforts being made to
lower the rates of alcohol related auto accidents. Maybe you could
consider forming a chapter at your school.
What
are those kids up to?
The
premier SADD-Liberty
Mutual Teens Today report
examines the results of two concurrent surveys of parent and teen
groups regarding the behaviors and concerns of the U.S. teenage
population in 2000. The teen survey charts the pressures and risks
perceived by today's teens in their daily lives, capturing concerns
ranging from violence and suicide to contracting a sexually transmitted
disease. The survey also probes actual behaviors by teens in some
critical areas, including speeding, drinking and driving, and the
use of seatbelts.
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Comedian
Rodney Dangerfield has made a career out of saying, "I get no respect!"
He's funny to most people because he seems to lead such a deprived life.
Everyone would like a bit more respect, particularly teachers. How
often have we mumbled and grumbled to one another that the kids these days
seem to have little or no respect for us and our positions as teachers and
leaders?
There's little argument that things aren't a great deal different now than
when we were kids but nonetheless, we must ask ourselves, "What am I doing
to show respect for my students?" Do I treat each one as a unique individual
or have I slipped into the bad habit of lumping students together into unfair
but convenient categories such as "jock," "rich kid" or "trouble maker"?
Have I gradually allowed myself to become one of those cynical and scathingly
sarcastic teachers that I deplored when I was growing up? Am I reduced
to a stand-off wherein no respect shall be given from me until I am first
respected?
Many
years ago I was a summer camp counselor and was grappling literally with
a "troublemaker" in my group. I went to the head counselor and he
gave me this advice, "Make him your assistant." My assistant?
He was my worst kid! The following morning I reluctantly gave him
the whistle and clipboard and made him the Official Roll Taker at meal
times. Well, my trouble maker quickly became my "shining star" as
I learned that what this particular child suffered from was a poor self-image
and a lack of positive attention, hence, he was willing to accept negative
attention rather than be ignored. By showing him some my respect
he gained a little self-respect and rose to the occasion. I'm not
saying it will work 100% of the time but give a little respect to your
least respectful student and see what happens.
Andy
Jenkins
Health
and Fitness Section Editor
PORTION
SIZE COUNTS!
Have you ever noticed how little ones eat little portions
all the time? Little children need to fill their stomachs
with small portions, because that's all they have room for.
Eating small amounts often is the best way for children to
learn to eat until satisfied, not until they overeat. Starting
kids off with the right portions allows them to learn to ask
for more. Proper portions for children are simple. Plan a
tablespoon for each year of age, of every food offered at
a meal. A three year old would start with three tablespoons
of every food offered, if they eat it all, they can ask for
more. One of the keys to developing healthy attitudes towards
foods is to learn when you are full. Starting little ones
with little amounts gets them on the right track.
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Low Fitness Increases Risk of Death
Research by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research points to lack of
exercise as an important predictor of death from cardiovascular disease
and all other causes. The study of over 32,000 people found men in poor
shape had a 70 percent increase in risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
Activity that maintains fitness also has favorable effects on obstacles
to longevity such as obesity, hypertension and high blood levels of sugar
and cholesterol. |
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Holiday
Meal Abuse
In many homes Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are the most popular
meals of the year. Unfortunately, these meals are often high in fat and
calories. For example, did your realize that the average thanksgiving
dinner is equivalent to eating 5
Big Macs or 144 Slices of Bread?
Nutrition
Resources for the Classroom
The American
Dietetic Association has a wonderful web-page full of information
that can be used for classroom instruction. Check it out.
Looking
At Nutrition Habits
In June 2000 the British Government published the National Diet and Nutrition
Survey (NDNS): young people aged 4 to 18 years. Detailed measurements
of diet, nutritional status, physical activity, oral health, and lifestyle
and socio-demographic characteristics were collected from over 1700 young
people. This survey is the largest and most detailed ever undertaken in
this age group in the UK. Some interesting information to compare against
the health and nutrition habits of US children!
Physical
Activity and Health - Children
Here's
a great web-page with lots of information on the health benefits of
fitness for children and on planning activities.
We
Want You!!
PLEASE
send us your ideas for articles, letters, conference dates and reports,
suggestions for links and any suggestions for site improvements. Help
to support quality physical education and health education by contributing
to this site.
Jingle
Bar-Bells!
Fox T.V. came up with 25 ways to exercise on Christmas. Why not try these
activities during the entire holiday season.
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