Section 5: Physical Fitness

With all the statistics out there concerning childhood obesity, we need to change and inform the many families who are uneducated or ignorant about the issue. As early childhood education professional we have the opportunity to help conquer the issue of the importance of daily exercise in our own communities. Our own First Lady, Michelle Obama, understands the importance of this issue, especially in the urban neighborhoods of America. She states, "Urban sprawl and fears about safety often mean the only walking they do is out their front door to a bus or a car." This quote reflects one mentality about exercise, especially in our large urban neighborhoods where many children reside. Mrs. Obama's passion is the cornerstone to the movement of children's health and fitness today.

But, the role of early childhood education professionals is important because they are incorporating physical activity and exercise for children into their lesson. Along with teaching educational skills, part of the responsibility of the teacher is to also provide lessons on proper nutrition and include activities to promote physical activity and exercise as part of a daily routine to help maintain healthy habits.

According to the article "Growing Up Fit" distributed by early childhood education professionals at Iowa State University, the world of a child "is a physical one". The article also states that regular physical activity for preschool children may improve a child's fitness in health and skill related areas while building fundamental motor skills which aid in the development of growth and increases the awareness of the body in space. This routine of physical fitness can also strengthen language and social skills since most outdoor games require participation and turn-taking, such as in games of tag or duck-duck-goose. Being active while working on being flexible and building endurance and strength is imperative to a child's healthy growth.

Children who do not participate in a routine regimen of physical activity while consuming empty calories run the risk of being obese. Childhood obesity is usually a precursor to other chronic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes. According to the CDC's website, "Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008". Children who suffer from childhood obesity may also suffer from low self-esteem, causing them to not want to participate in activities, creating a vicious cycle of lack of exercise and poor body/self image. This vicious cycle can lead obese children to become obese teenagers and adults. At later ages, there are far more health risks such as cardiovascular disease and the risk of strokes. For this reason, it is important for adults to educate children about the necessity of physical activity and exercise while facilitating fun activities to keep their interest in fitness piqued.

The text, Safety, Nutrition and Health in Early Education by Cathie Robertson, "In 2000, a new guideline was added to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans reflecting the fact that physical activity is needed to balance food intake" (p. 265). Adults can help create physical activities that help children focus on fitness and should include gross-motor and fine-motor skills at a developmental level. For preschoolers, children should focus on the development of locomotor skills such as running, jumping and hopping. One activity that can involve all three of these actions is the creation of an obstacle course. A teacher can create a course that involves running around cones, then jumping over a small object such as blocks, then hopping into hula hoops that have been placed on the floor. These activities will create an understanding of a child's movement in space.

An activity to help facilitate the development of fine-motor skills can be bowling. Using a small ball, which is small enough for a child to grasp with his/her palm and wrap his/her fingers around will assist the smaller muscles in the hand to develop as he/she catches and releases the ball to knock down the pins. Beanbag activities that involve tossing and catching are also fun for the children and also aid in the development of fine-motor skills as well as coordination.

With these kind of activities a child will be engaged and can create a routine of fitness and fun! It is important as early childhood education professionals that we incorporate physical activity and exercise into our programs to help aid in the creating of healthy children in their formative years.

Have a Blessed day!

**References**

Childhood Obesity - DASH/HealthyYouth. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/

Henderson, N. (n.d.). Michelle Obama speaks frankly about race - Nia-Malika Henderson - POLITICO.com. Politics, Political News - POLITICO.com. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33162.html

Robertson, C. (2010). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Education [IMPORT] (4th ed.). n/a: Cengage.

Rupnow, A. (n.d.). Growing Up Fit. Preschool Fitness Activities. Retrieved April 11, 2010, from www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1359B.pdf