"The importantest thing I learned was to stay active and stuff," said Meagan Cancilla, 9, from Sansome School in Canada. "That's so I don't become lazy and sick." Like most 4th graders she spent her recess bouncing between a soccer game, tossing a Frisbee and playing tag. She said she's usually quite active, but realizes now she has to stay that way.

She's part of a study by Manitoba Institute of Child Healt…

The increased cost of fuel is affecting the costs of everything. Many school districts are having to cut items from the menu because they don't fit into the budget any longer!

One school district in Bainbridge, Washington is trying to pass a bill that allows the school districts to favor contracts from local farmers to get local foods on lunchrooms menus. Groups of parents hope the measure will rejuvenate interest in adding nutritious, natu…

This article has been adapted from The Herald News
"Snack on this:Healthy alternatives for kids to munch on"
By Gina Lombardi

A very important distinction in food is between a treat and a snack...

Foods like cookies, ice cream, candy, and chips often come to mind when we think of snacks, however they are very clearly treats, because these types of foods are generally loaded with sugar and/or fat, contain lots of calories and very little n…

Winter was officially over and Spring is here so it's time to think about sending kids out to the playground. Here's some tips for making the playground safe.

1. After snow, rain or other elements the playground surfacing may be in need of refilling or loose fill ( wood chips, pea gravel, sand etc.) needs "fluffed up" (raked and groomed after a winter compacting). A 12" minimum an fill evenly throughout the play struct…

A University of Miami study designed to prevent childhood obesity in preschoolers is showing promising results. According to Dr. Sarah Messiah, “We wanted to keep normal weight children normal weight so it's really a prevention intervention."

Researchers developed the program to teach inner city kids about healthy foods and why they need to eat them. A new report shows it’s working. Kids in the program stopped eating chips almost enti…

When you think of great companies doing great things for kids KaBOOM would certainly be near the top of the list. I first heard of KaBoom nearly 12 years ago at an international playground conference where Darell Hammond -Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KaBoom was just getting started. Who knew his vision of creating a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America would develop into a Nationally recognized non…

Looking for alternative fundraisers to unhealthy food? Here are some ideas for fundraising not associated with food. Children in Balance created this list and they have designed and implemented in- and after-school curricula, planning guides, and toolkits to assist parents, teachers, pediatricians and community leaders in creating an environment that promotes healthy eating and active living. For more information e-mail childreninbalance@tufts…

A single glass of water can make a difference for children around the world…A nationwide effort is launching during World Water Week called the Tap Project, a campaign that celebrates the clean and accessible tap water available as an every day privilege to millions, while helping UNICEF provide safe drinking water to children around the world.

read more | digg story

"NOT ON THE TEST" SATIRIZES CURRENT AMERICAN CURRICULUM TRENDS
Tom Chapin, a Grammy Award-winning musician perhaps best known for children's music, has released a new song titled "Not on the Test." The song satirizes the American education system's renewed focus on rote teaching, in which tests have become the sole reason to teach and learn. Music, art, drama and sports were what kept Chapin engaged in school. In addit…

GO BRUINS!!!


School vegetable gardens were once common, but they gradually disappeared when the federal School Lunch Program came to be. Fresh foods that came from local farms and school gardens were gradually replaced by commodities made available through the USDA, which administers the National School Lunch Programs, founded in 1946.

The program provided food for many children, but as years passed, nutritionists noted that the offerings weren…

Rachel Sindelar wrote an article entitled, "Is recess necessary in the 21st Century?"

In her report she talks about the trend to eliminate recess and the debate over whether or not recess should remain a standard part of the elementary school daily schedule. The report also identifies the major issues surrounding this debate, summarizes some of the literature relating to the topic of recess, and guides the reader to additional resourc…

Americans are invited to participate in the first-ever National President’s Challenge.

The six-week fitness program, which kicks off Thursday, the first day of spring, encourages everyone to be active at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. And just in case you need 8 weeks to complete the 6 weeks, no problem they've allow for 2 extra weeks to complete the 6. (Who could ask for more?)

In any case, the goal is to help everyone from chi…

There seems to be a buzz recently about physical activity and better "test taking" performance. One such example is an article in the Twin Cities Pioneer press which reported that: "Moving around improves kids' literacy scores."

The article about Farmington Middle School East, said staff members have implemented the "Literacy Education in the Active Domain" to help students who struggle with reading. The LEA…

Creating safe routes for children to travel on to get to school is catching on as more school districts are realizing the benefits of an active commute. The Safe Routes to School program was created as a resource for schools and parents who want to consider activating a walking-to-school program. The Safe Routes to School website provides lots of information on the benefits of walking to and from school including information on Route planning…

Virgin Healthmiles, part of British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group empire, is trying to take wellness and weight loss to another level. Insurance company Humana is rolling out the high-tech Virgin Life Care system, which lets employees rack up points for exercise. They can redeem the points for gift cards from Target to Home Depot, Bass Pro Shops to Best Buy.

The program has been slow to take off, though.

"Companies are alread…

On many elementary school campuses in San Diego, California children run for 15 or 20 minutes each morning to fight childhood obesity with before-school running clubs. An additional bonus that has received much attention in the last few months is the theory that running also boosts brain development.

The importance of physical activity was also documented by the California Department of Education study that showed a correlation between the numbe…

Stuart Brown created the National Institute for Play in 1996 after more than 20 years of psychiatric practice and research persuaded him of the dangerous long-term consequences of play deprivation.

According to Brown, "If you look at what produces learning and memory and well-being, play is as fundamental as any other aspect of life, including sleep and dreams.’’

Play (or lack of ) is the one thing that most educators, parents, and psychologi…

The first transcripts for the PEP Technical Assistance call on February 22, 2008 has been posted on the Carol White PEP Website.

For a brief overview of the program, Panel Chair - Debbie Kalnasy, opened saying the intent of the PEP program is to provide grants to local educational agencies and community-based organizations, to initiate, expand, or enhance physical education programs for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade and to help …

A RAND Corporation study says school playgrounds can be important tools in the fight against childhood obesity. However, many are locked and inaccessible to children on weekends – especially in poor and minority neighborhoods.

The study called the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) found that, on average, 66 percent of the schools were unlocked on weekends. But only 57 percent of schools were both unlocked and had accessible faciliti…

About 5 years ago I had the opportunity to visit numerous schools throughout different regions in China. An educational phenomena that has stuck with me and left a lasting impression was "morning exercise." In all schools in China, students arrive and then go outside to about 15 minutes of student lead exercises daily. Parks are filled with adults who go through a routine of morning and evening exercises as well.

I ran across the p…

BY CHRIS WIEBE
The Leader- Burbank, CA
March 6, 2008

MAGNOLIA PARK DISTRICT — During a game of four-square at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School Wednesday, second-graders Luis Reyes, 7, and Cassidy McNeill, 8, reached an impasse over a point.

“It was in,” Luis said.

advertisement

“It’s out!” Cassidy fired back.

But before the conflict escalated any further, the two broke out into a spontaneous game of rock-paper-scissors and Luis — losing his paper t…

Secretary of Agriculture Charles M. Kuperus and U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Regional Administrator Patricia Dombroski in celebration of a National School Breakfast Week shared a breakfast of cereal, low fat milk, juice and yogurt Monday morning with fourth graders from Anthony V. Ceres Elementary School.

Dombroski, who ate bananas and yogurt with the children, said research shows eating breakfast helps children to be ready to learn.

&qu…

Each year the District and Public Relations Committee of the National Association for Sport Physical Education (NASPE) develops special integrated activities for teachers and their students to do during National Physical Education and Sport Week, May 1-7. NASPE leaders and staff encourage all K-12 physical education teachers to take advantage of these wonderful resources to showcase your quality sport and physical education programs in your scho…

If you are applying for a 2008 PEP Grant make sure that you refer to your state Standards for Physical Education. An index listing the State PE Standards is on the PE4U website.


Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The Carol M. White Physical Education Program
(PEP) provides grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) and
community-based organizations (CBOs) to initiate, expand, or enhance
physical education programs, includin…

At the Oxford Health Alliance Conference experts suggested that world governments should pay more attention to overcoming deadly factors such as poor diet, smoking and a lack of exercise and less time and money on terrorism.

Global terrorism was a real threat but posed far less risk than obesity, diabetes and smoking-related illnesses, prominent US professor of health law Lawrence Gostin said at the Oxford Health Alliance Summit here.

While w…

Making time for physical education doesn't hurt grades, and may help boost girls' test scores, according to a new study written by the CDC.

The report, written by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists, addresses concerns of school administrators who fear that increasing P.E. time will interfere with pressure to raise standardized test scores. The study was released Thursday in the online version of the Journal of American …

Beginning Monday, March 3 the PEP GRANT BLOG will be moved to the Peaceful Playgrounds Blogsite.

We will blog M-F on topics of interest for people writing PEP GRANTS until the application due date of March 24, 2008.