Workers lose weight-Gain money

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 already spending so much money on health care, they really have to ask, 'What's the return on this investment?' " Pattie Dale Tye, president of Humana, Houston said.

The Virgin system includes pedometers which measure steps taken. Users can connect their pedometers at a kiosk using a USB cable and record their steps, with points awarded based on the total.

At the kiosk, workers also can weigh themselves and get points for losing pounds, if they are overweight, or for maintaining a healthy balance if they're not.

Workers can earn points for other physical activities such as bowling or dancing.

But installing and operating the kiosks costs several thousand dollars, and Virgin charges $6.95 a month per employee enrolled. Tye said some companies are picking up that entire tab. Others push $5 of the cost back to employees.

Running : Miracle-Gro for the Brain

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 number of state physical fitness standards children meet and how well they scored on reading and math tests.

Classroom teachers insist there is an instant payoff to a few laps. Children who get off to a running start take the momentum into their first class where they seemed to arrive without the usually wiggles that can interfere with learning.

John Ratey of Harvard Medical School and author of “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain,” said exercise increases the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor that helps the brain do its job better.

“That is what I call Miracle-Gro for the brain,” Ratey said.

The protein encourages brain cells to sprout synapses, which contribute to learning.

Rene, a fifth-grade student in San Diego has already learned an important life lesson.
“I'm trying to live a better life by running,” Rene said. “The more you run, the healthier you can be.”

Pedometers are another way to motivate kids to run. The We Count Program includes step charts and stickers for getting kids moving.

Pedometers spur physical activity

The pedometer, a simple and inexpensive step-counting device, significantly increases daily activity levels and even promotes weight loss, according to a recent study directed by Dena Bravata, a senior research scientist at Stanford’s School of Medicine.

Bravata and her team of researchers analyzed study results from 2,767 people, mostly overweight and inactive women, who agreed to keep records of their physical activity while using a pedometer over an 18-week period. On average, the study found that the participants using pedometers increased their daily activity by 2,183 steps.

“Just over 2,100 steps might not sound like that much, but it equates to a 27 percent increase in physical activity — which is really astounding,” said Bravata in a Nov. 20 School of Medicine news release.

Bravata also observed that most participants experienced a drop in systolic blood pressure and a slightly lower body mass index (BMI) after using a pedometer for the duration of the study.

Though the study did not formally analyze why a pedometer might motivate people to increase their daily activity levels, Crystal Smith-Spangler, one of the members of the research team at Stanford, had a few suggestions.

More on pedometers and motivation......

Peaceful Playgrounds Inc found that children were also motivated to move by pedometers. In a 16 week pedometer program called "We Count" students increased their steps by 40%.The We Count Program received a Promising Practices Award from the Promising Practices Afterschool Association.

More on the children's pedometer research from Peaceful Playgrounds.......

Physical Education Class Uses Pedometers to Motivate Kids to Move

At Washington Woods Elementary, students recently started using pedometers during gym class, and physical education teacher Doreen Spindler keeps track of how many steps they take.

"Once they get 1,200 steps, which equals to half a mile, I punch their cards," she said. "That encourages them. If we play a game where we have to stand in line to wait, they jog in place or do jumping jacks. It's amazing how a lot of them are very aware of what their pedometers say."

After every two miles completed on the pedometer, Spindler gives students little foot-shaped tokens. She also gives them tokens when they bring in log sheets that show they met exercising goals.

Spindler and the school nurse, Robin Moore, work together to promote health.
Moore talks to the children about eating properly and has them bring in a log sheet, monitored by parents, that shows how many healthy snacks they have eaten, Spindler said. Moore gives them hand-shaped tokens once they reach 10.

Students display their tokens on their backpacks and necklaces, encouraging a healthy competition among each other, Spindler said.

"They know they have different opportunities that can help them make a healthy choice, whether it be what they eat or how they are active," Spindler said.

The We Count Pedometer Walking Program provides different tools for motivating and tracking student progress. Walking logs, chants, certificates, bulletin boards and many other tools motivate students to move.

Pedometers: The answer to "plague of plenty"?

One of the cheapest and research supported "effective" exercise and weight loss tools is available for under $20. Yep. The pedometer.

Research has indicated that the pedometer has been shown to motivate, track steps, hold walkers accountable and is generally accepted as one of "man's best tools" in the plague of plenty.

People worry about flu epidemics, cancer and even anthrax attacks, but the "plague of plenty" is the major factor shortening the lives of Americans.

Set goals for new habits of healthy eating and exercise that you can achieve. It may be as simple as taking the stairs every day at work, or taking a 15-minute walk on your lunch break.

Start today.

Students at Catholic schools in western suburbs walking to enhance fitness

Thursday, October 11, 2007
By David Guo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

There are maybe 30 of them between the day's first class and second, 48 from the school driveway to the church's parking lot. A good-morning jackpot of 100 lies at the front door, one student reveals, for anyone who walks there from the school bus drop point.

Hmmm. Maybe those 48 steps to Mass every Wednesday should be worth a bonus, these students at SS Simon and Jude School in Scott figure, since they're all uphill and sport multiple stoops.

The pedometers arrived Oct. 1 at the school on Greentree Road as part of the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield "We Count" program, a partnership with the Diocese of Pittsburgh aimed at enhancing fitness for 6,500 students in 33 schools.

Others in the western suburbs include: Elizabeth Seton, Sheraden; Holy Child, Bridgeville; Our Lady of Grace, Scott; St. John the Baptist, Monaca; and St. Titus, Aliquippa.

It's been a walk-a-thon ever since, as students with pedometers tucked on their belts check their readouts like quarter-milers sweating through a track workout.

The fun is led by the eighth-graders who helped design a giant poster chart to track each class's progress during the next 18 weeks.

One of the Week One leaders is James Pozycki, 13, of Banksville, who's racked up 3,247 steps, thanks to cross-country practice. He makes sure to keep the device on whenever possible.

"When I'm at home, I'm always outside, walking or running. Sometimes it gives you more or less than you think, but it's pretty good," he said of the pedometer's accuracy. "About every period I check it."

That 3,247 tally duly impresses his friend Ryan Jenkins, 13, of Scott, he of a mere 2,066 steps.

"Gee, you're killing me," he said.

Meanwhile, Abra Dadum, 13, of Dormont, is trailing with 1,568 steps. But not to worry, she said, because a couple days of soccer practice should do the trick. Like James, she said it's fun checking to see how many steps various activities rack up and comparing notes with other students.

"We want to see who gets the highest. It's fun competition," Abra said.

Sister Norman Zanieski, principal of SS Simon and Jude, said she is happy the school and about 160 students were chosen for the program that aims to lessen obesity in children.

A diocesan educator for "eons," or 36 years in Ebensburg, Cambria County, Natrona Heights, Baden and Scott, she said there's no question that "The kids are not as active as they used to be."

Hide and seek used to be the pastime of choice, whereas nowadays kids play video games. To make her point, she raises her hands in that too-familiar, double-yoke game-controller pose and says, "Yes, I know what it is, Atari or something like that. They just sit around and put themselves in front of a TV."

Diocesan education consultant Mike Killmeyer, who is coordinating the grant, called the program "a wonderful opportunity to enhance our Diocesan Physical Activity and Nutritional Policy."

"We have been working with all of our schools to try to find ways to increase the amount of physical activity throughout the day,'' he said. "We believe that the 'We Count' pedometer program can greatly aid us in that task."

In addition to pedometers, each of the participating schools received curriculum materials that reinforce the lessons and help the students set a tangible goal.

Mr. Killmeyer said the individual schools will track the number of steps each child walks during the 18-week program. Sister Zanieski added that the results will cross over into a computer lesson, too, as a teacher helps the students enter the data into a spreadsheet.

"It is our goal that we will see a gradual increase in the average steps walked per child, classroom and school, thus proving that the students' daily physical activity levels are increasing," Mr. Killmeyer said.

Christine Gulakowski of Scott said all three of her children -- Ashlynn , 6, Brady, 9 and Corey, 11 -- have stepped onto the "We Count" bandwagon.

"I think it's made exercise more fun, so it's gotten the kids excited," she said, adding that she is particularly surprised that Ashlynn is so engaged.

"The boys are too, but she puts it on first thing, she's pumped up about it. They don't even realize how much physical fitness they're getting. They're all comparing notes.

"I really think we'll keep with it even after it's over."

One thing's sure: the students had better do more than talk the talk. A sneak peek at Sister Zanieski's pedometer clocked her in at 8,955, bad knee and all.
First published on October 11, 2007 at 9:07 am

Nominate your Physical Activity Programs

Are you implementing Peaceful Playgrounds or WE Count? Have they made a difference in getting your students physically active? If so, you might want to consider working with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the CDC in allowing them to collect data on your school's program/s.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the CDC are seeking nominations for programs or policies that fall into the following 3 areas: 1) comprehensive school physical activity programs, 2) after school/daycare programs addressing obesity, and 3) increasing access to fresh foods in low SES inner city communities.

As the search for answers to effectively address childhood obesity continues, organizations and communities across the country are experimenting with various strategies aimed at changing children’s environments to reduce the incidence of obesity. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of Adolescent and School Health, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Prevention Research Centers Program Office, and the CDC Foundation are undertaking a 2-year collaborative project to identify and assess local-level programs and policies that have been implemented with apparent notable success to improve the eating habits and physical activity levels of children. Macro International Inc. serves as the coordinating center for the project.

The goal of this project is to conduct evaluability assessments, which are "pre" evaluations to determine if a prhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifogram is promising and ready for a more rigorous full evaluation. The first round of evaluability assessments is currently underway and we are preparing for the second round. Similar to the first round, we will be aiming to conduct 10 assessments in each of the topic areas.

A program that has not been rigorously evaluated can be considered for an evaluability assessment. Once a nominated program is chosen by our Expert Panel, the evaluability assessment consists of a 3-day site visit where trained project staff assess program implementation, data collection, and program outcomes. As part of the site visit, a limited amount of on-site technical assistance will be provided to each site.

The submission deadline is Friday, October 26, 2007.

For additional information and nomination form please contact Nicola Dawkins, Ph.D. by e-mail at or by phone at 404-321-3211.

October is International Walk to School Month

Registration is now open for 2007 International Walk to School events in the USA. This October, communities around the country will join nearly 40 countries to celebrate walking and bicycling to school.

Registration is free and available to all Walk to School event organizers in the USA. By registering, Walk to School organizers have a chance to win prizes for students and gain access to a variety of downloadable items, including certificates, printable sticker templates,
media materials and more. Registrants can also subscribe to a Walk to School e-newsletter with tips and resources for walk to school events.

Walk to School Day will take place October 3, 2007. To register an event, or to sign up as a resource person for Walk to School events, please visit www.walktoschool.org/register. Registered events will be displayed on an interactive map on the Walk to School Web site, so that neighboring communities, media and other organizations will be able to
view participating events.

Make it more than a one day event. Keep kids walking. Check out Peaceful Playgrounds We Count Walking Program which uses pedometers as an aid to kids in fighting fat.

The program’s design is based on research that indicates that inexpensive step-counting devices (pedometers) motivate and educate kids to walk and be more active, thereby impacting the alarming number of overweight children.

The We Count Walking Program is an innovative new program designed to get kids fit with the slogan, “Get Fit, Don’t Sit”. It comes complete with teacher materials to support cognitive development in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and concepts related to combating obesity.

Toy Makers Design Goal: Get Kids Moving

Musical Hokey Pokey Skirt (Acting Out, $32): The skirt has a hidden pocket that holds a music box; movement keeps the hokeypokey playing.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The movement started with Dance Dance Revolution, a video game that inspired youngsters to give up their joysticks and boogie with abandon in front of the television.

Electronic-toy makers, often denounced for fostering laziness, have discovered that fitness sells.

Some are creating products that encourage children to pursue exercise while indulging their appetite for couch-potato entertainment.

One of the latest: The Smart Cycle, a stationary bike from Fisher-Price for 3- to 5-year-olds, combines pedal power with educational video games.

Coming soon: miniature treadmills and pedometers for preschoolers.

Even the catalog company Back to Basics Toys, which sells classics such as pogo sticks and tumbling mats, will pitch a $55 item called "Get Off the Couch," with interactive games for age 5 and older.

"For better or worse, this is the future," said Jim Silver, editor of Toy Wishes Magazine. "It's your computer, TV and video system, and that is the road we are heading down."

More......

Doc tells new patients-"stay healthy"

A London doctor whose family practice has been full for a decade is taking on new patients.

But he expects any he accepts now to be motivated to be healthy -- and to stay that way.

As a doctor who has worked closely with athletes -- including the University of Western Ontario's men's soccer team, the national rowing team and "weekend warriors" -- Shin encourages physical activity in his family practice, too.

He sometimes gives patients pedometers to record running or walking distances -- and he monitors their activity.

"I guess you could say I'm aggressive in my encouragement," he said.

More on MD targets doc shortage

Schools on the Move

A initiative to tackle childhood obesity will see 45,000 pedometers delivered to 250 deprived schools in the UK.

The Department of Health's 'Schools on the Move' programme gets underway from September 2007 and March 2008, encouraging children to become more active..

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said: "Pedometers have been proven to increase the amount of physical activity undertaken by not only young people but by their families as well.

"When this scheme was piloted, we found that children were so keen to improve their step count they often persuaded their families to get more active by going for things like a country walk, or visiting local fitness clubs.

"We have found they appeal particularly to children who wouldn't normally do much physical activity."

Information on a United States school walking program using pedometers can be found at Peaceful Playgrounds : We Count Pedometer Program.

Playground Safety Study Released

In the United States each year, emergency rooms treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and under for playground-related injuries. About 45% of those injuries are considered severe including internal injuries, fractures, concussions, dislocations and amputations. Approximately 75% of nonfatal injuries related to playground equipment take place on public playgrounds, and most of those are at schools and daycare centers. In a ten-year period (1990-2000), a startling 147 children in that same age group died from playground-related injuries. Of those deaths, 82% were from strangulation and 31% were from falls.

According to a new study by Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, injuries due to falls from playground equipment result in a higher number of severe injuries than either bicycle or motor vehicle crashes. Injuries can result from poorly designed or defective playground equipment , falls from heights onto hard surfaces, falling onto glass or other dangerous debris, or the playground owner's failure to supervise or protect children from foreseeable accidents resulting from the misuse of playground equipment.

While all children who use public playgrounds are at risk for injury, girls sustain injuries slightly more often than boys, and children ages 5-9 have higher rates of emergency room visits for injuries than any other age group. A study in New York City found that playgrounds in low-income areas had more maintenance-related hazards than playgrounds in high-income areas. The low income playgrounds had more trash, rusty play equipment and damaged fall surfaces.
http://www.ask4sam.net/2007/07/playgrounds-not-as-safe-as-parents-may.html

Step log online

Walker Tracker is a community site for pedometer fans to log and track their steps.

Start Logging Your Walking by setting up an account.
(It's free and you can start tracking steps right away.)

→ Learn more about the Walker Tracker

A few members who have posted in the last while.

Use the Walker Tracker to:

• Track your steps — great for 10000 step programs
• Also track heart rate, blood pressure, aerobic steps and a variety of other health metrics
• Calculate your daily mileage
• View charts of your progress
• Set a step goal
• Write a mini-blog about each day
• Form groups and compete
• Follow the progress of your fellow walkers
• Upload a daily walking photo
• Find other walkers
• Get inspired to walk more

Walker Tracker is free to use and a perfect way to keep motivated to walk more, be healthier, and meet other walkers. Sign up!

Sign Up for
Walker Tracker

For more information go to the Walker Tracking website.

Paying the Price of a Cheap Pedometer

Wearing a pedometer can motivate adults and children alike to add more steps to their day and get in more exercise. However, a study suggests that using cheap, inaccurate pedometers could do more harm than good in giving people an inaccurate count.

The study tested a cheap Stepping Meter vs. the accurate Yamax Digiwalker SW-200 on 35 study subjects. Each subject wore 1 Yamax pedometer and 5 Stepping Meters all day and the step counts were recorded at the end of the day. Each subject tested 30 pedometers over the course of six days.

A 10% variation in the step counts was considered acceptable. Only a quarter of the inexpensive pedometers met this mark, while the resulting 74% overcounted or undercounted steps. The most inaccurate pedometers overcounted the steps - with a third of them overcounting them by 50%. The others undercounted steps. People who think they are walking 10,000 steps per day may only be walking 5,000 steps per day.

In a pilot test of pedometers with children, Peaceful Playgrounds tested an inexpensive ($5-10) pedometer against a more expensive ($15-20) pedometer. They found that the inexpensive pedometers resulted in inaccurate step counts, broke frequently, and frustrated children. Peaceful Playgrounds found that child proof pedometers must be durable, accurate, be able to withstand dropping, and shaking. "A safety strap is a must," according to Peaceful Playgrounds director, Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer, author of the We Count Pedometer Walking Program. "We found that children were very competitive with their step counts and would challenge a friend to a specified distance and then both children would check their pedometers, " children found the inaccurrate pedometers frustrating and lost interest in their use.

Peaceful Playgrounds concluded that a target price for a pedometer for children is generally around $20. A price point in the $20 range seem to provide good quality pedometers that stand up to the use and abuse (dropping, shaking, etc) that is often typical use patterns for children.

For more information on pedometer studies: Crouter, Schneider, Karabulut and Bassett, "Pedometer Measures of Free-Living Physical Activity: Comparison of 13 Models." Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 36(2):331-335, February 2004.

Kids AND Adults Benefit from Pedometers

Who knew that Leonardo da Vinci invented the pedometer?

The prolific 15th-century inventor and artist sketched what's undoubtedly the world's first pedometer. This pendulum-driven device was strapped to the leg, swinging back and forth to measure distance.

More than 500 years later, his invention — packed with high-tech features — has become all the rage in exercise circles, launching walking groups across the country.

And both adults and chidren are walking their way toward a healthier future, as research shows pedometers do inspire lasting change.

People like toys," said Judith Webb, manager of education for Avenidas, a Palo Alto organization dedicated to fostering the well-being of older adults. Avenidas is a co-organizer of the Lifelong Fitness Alliance in Redwood City, CA.

"Your pedometer becomes your little companion," Webb said. "And it's amazing, when you put one on, you become conscious of what you're doing."

Children benefit from pedometer as well. The We Count Pedometer Program participants (elementary school students) increased their step counts by 40% during a 16 week program.

A parent newsletter component of the program kept parents informed and provided them with physical activity choices for families. Student and parent newsletters cover topics such as: Getting Started Moving; Activity Choices; Walking Tips; Benefits of Physical Activity; Calories: How Much is Enough?; Portion Sizes: Am I Eating too Much?; and When Bigger is Not Better: Portion Sizes.

In 2006 the We Count Pedometer Walking program (published by Peaceful Playgrounds, Inc.)
http://www.peacefulplaygrounds.com
received a national award called the Promising Practices in After School Programming Award.

Exercise: To Encourage Walking, Make It Personal

People who want some exercise often need to do little more than get off their, er, couches and go for a walk. Despite numerous studies linking walking to better health, many people cannot seem to bring themselves to do even that.

Now a new study reports that the most successful health initiatives to encourage walking tend to use “targeting and tailoring.” They are aimed at people who are most likely to be responsive, and they are geared to individual goals.

“In other words,” the researchers write in BMJ Online First, “one size may not fit all.”

The researchers found that some of the most effective advice was given individually, as when a doctor counsels a patient to exercise, or was aimed at individual households. Groups formed so people can walk together also help. But broader initiatives, like a schoolwide or companywide effort, tended to work less well.

It helped, the researchers found, if people were reminded to walk, including by phone or e-mail, and if they had pedometers to keep track of their progress.

Walking Program Tips
Use pedometer for motivation and step counting
Remind participants to walk using email or phone.
Dr.'s advice most effective in change

This study was conducted with adults. For pedometer walking program tips with children check out We Count a children's walking program.

Free passes help kids get fit

How do you convince kids to get off the computer or couch and get more active? Give them free passes to municipal pools, rinks, gyms and recreation centres, which is what occurred in Kingston, Ontario, when school district officials copied an idea which reportedly originated in Delta, B.C. The Kingston Gets Active and Active2010 initiative was formally evaluated by Queen's University researchers from the school of kinesiology and health studies.

Katie Faloon, lead researcher of the evaluation, said the initiative, which sees every grade five student in Kingston and surrounding townships get a free, one-year pass, has been so successful that it will be extended to grade 10 students in the fall. The pass is a partnership among the Limestone District School Board, YMCA, and various communities.

Faloon, who now works for the Public Health Agency of Canada, said about 2,500 students in the Kingston area have been offered the passes and according to the study, nearly three-quarters of the grade five students have taken advantage of it to increase their physical activity levels.

The researchers found that the free pass program eliminated the usual barriers and excuses which kids usually cite about why they don't get more exercise: cost, lack of equipment, safety, homework and facility hours.

Julie Halfnight, a Delta municipal analyst, said the grade five pass program is used to varying degrees by about 80 per cent of kids who get the passes and is revenue neutral because kids bring with them their paying parents or older siblings.

"But this free pass program for kids is a great step forward because overweight kids present some of our greatest challenges and we need ideas like this which are like jump starts, not just incremental steps," said Hogg, who will speak Tuesday at the 19th International Union for Health Promotion and Education World conference.

More on free passess help kids get fit.

County School Board Exercises Authority Over Physical Activity

Trend setters??

The Prince George's County Board of Education recently passed a resolution just for the health of it. They supported legislation to increase time for daily physical activity for students during the recently completed legislative session.
At the May 17 board meeting, board members wore athletic gear from various county high schools, and they unanimously passed a resolution directing Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Deasy to develop a plan for a three-year phase in of daily physical exercise for all students in prekindergarten through 12th grade.

In considering physical activity and childhood obesity interventions be sure to checkout the San Diego County Office of Education PEP Grant Funded intervention called "Shaping Up, It's Elementary". The short video spells out intervention strategies to get kids active and moving including SPARK, Peaceful Playgrounds and Pedometers.

Step Guidelines and MVPA Targets Using Pedometers

A study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was designed to translate ACSM/CDC public health guidelines for 30 minutes of daily moderate-intensity physical activity into steps. Researchers at San Diego State University and Arizona State University utilized commercial pedometers on a community sample of adults. Their results support an approximate 100 step/minute recommendation for minimally moderate intensity. To meet ACSM/CDC recommendations, this equates to 3,000 steps in 30 minutes, or three daily bouts of 1,000 steps in 10 minutes.

While pedometers are useful tools to measure step counts, researchers noted pedometer-derived steps should be used with caution for gauging moderate intensity walking. Step counts associated with moderate intensity walking should be individualized based on stride length and level of fitness. ACSM defines moderate intensity walking as "brisk" walking, or "walking with purpose." Walkers should be able to talk comfortably at a moderate-intensity level, but still feel exertion. Other definitions have included a pace at which you break a sweat and/or have a slight increase in your heart rate.

"Walking is one of the easiest forms of physical activity, and one that most people can do to meet recommendations for daily exercise," said Simon J. Marshall, Ph.D., lead author of the study. "Most people have an instinct about the length of time or the distance they walk. A pedometer can help count steps, but when you also try to walk at least 1000 steps in 10 minutes on a regular basis, you may gain significant health benefits.

MVPA Step Count Targets
100 Steps each minute
1000 Steps in 10 minutes
3000 Steps in 30 minutes

Description of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity
"brisking walking"
"walking with a purpose"

Physical indications of MVPA
be able to talk comfortably at a moderate-intensity level
a pace at which you break a sweat
slight increase in your heart rate

The pedometer-derived step count study was conducted with adults.

It should be noted that pedometers are an inexpensive tool for gaging students physical activity levels as well. "The devices can be particularly motivating for children. The kids can get very competitive to see who gets the most steps..." - iVillage Health

To find out more about the use of pedometers with children visit the Peaceful Playgrounds Website and download their "Don't Sit, Get Fit" Pedometer Powerpoint Presentation. It includes daily step targets for students as well as, step targets for a 30 minutes recess or physical education period.

When Physical Activity is Fun, Kids Get it Done.

A little something is better than nothing. Adults often think that the "all or nothing" approach to movement demands 30 minutes of physical activity a day or their wasting their time. However, anyone working with children know that their activity level can best be described volleying between "bursts of energy" and bouts of rest. Teach children that if they don't have a 30-minute "chunk" of time to move, three 10-minute bouts or six five-minute bouts offer similar benefits. Walking to school can make a big difference and why not start a school walking program? They are easy to administer and students reap positive health outcomes. Every step adds to better health.

Enjoy the cadence below that is a part of our We Count Pedometer School Walking Program. Start your school walking program today.

The We Count Walking Program is an innovative new program designed to get kids fit with the slogan, “Get Fit, Don’t Sit”.

The “We Count” Walking Program comes complete with teacher materials to support cognitive development in the areas of physical activity, nutrition and concepts related to combating obesity.

Up in the Morning at the Break of Day
Up in the morning at the break of day
Countin steps and loving play

Running on the track when the sun don't shine
For movin makes me feel so fine!

Up in the morning and out on the track
Grab my shoes and step like that

Running cross the grass in the morning dew
Looking good and feeling it too.

Up in the morning with a whistle and a yell
Movin’s great I fell swell

Teacher says hey move your feet
Walkin the track a morning treat.

I like movin and I feel fine.
Even when doing double time.

Copyright Peaceful Playgrounds, Inc. 2006