Health Advocates Urge Kids To “Power Up Your Summer!”

June 17 , 2010

San Bernardino, Calif. July 12, 2010 – The Network for a Healthy California— Desert Sierra Region Children’s Power Play! Campaign in partnership with community youth organizations in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties today kicked-off the second annual Power Up Your Summer! Challenge to empower kids to add more active play and eat more fruits and vegetables this summer to combat the summer slump in physical activity and healthy eating. Kids gain weight more than twice as fast during the summer as they do during the regular school year. The difference between school and summer gain rates was especially large for Black and Hispanic children, as well as those children who are already overweight. 1 1 “The Effect of School on Overweight in Childhood: Gain in Body Mass Index During the School Year and During Summer Vacation,” American Journal of Public Health, April 2007.

For many students, summer break is also a break from healthy habits fostered in the structured school environment said Pamela Sit, Coordinator, Network for a Healthy California— Desert Sierra Region Children’s Power Play! Campaign. Instead of scheduled meals and snacks, children at home during summer break may have continuous access to unhealthy snacks. In place of recess, children may spend more time watching television and playing video games. It all adds up to more calories consumed and less burned. Eating more fruits and vegetables not only beats the summer slump and childhood obesity, but helps kids feel good, reduce stress, improve strength and increase self-esteem—all benefits that last far beyond the summer break. By participating in the Power Up Your Summer!” Challenge, kids and their families receive resources, tools and guidance to ensure they meet their personal goals for healthy eating and physical activity this summer.

Elementary school children should get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, which can be done throughout the day for at least 10 minutes at a time and should eat two-and-a-half to five cups of fruits and vegetables every day. Specific guidelines for children based upon age, gender and activity level can be found at www.cachampionsforchange.net. “Parents can help their kids stay on track this summer by including more fruits and vegetables in meals and snacks, limiting screen time and by being positive role models, said Sit. One of the best ways for parents to help kids get active and maintain healthy eating habits is by enrolling them into a summer activity program, which provides scheduled play and snacks, as well as a safe place for children to learn and grow while parents work. To officially kick off the Power Up Your Summer! Challenge, youth leaders from eighteen different youth organizations throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties will guide kids in super-charged, fun group games and personal play activities, such as hula-hoop, jump rope and dancing to meet a regional goal for active play minutes. Local organizations participating in the Power Up Your Summer! Challenge include the Boys & Girls Club of Redlands; La Quinta; and the Desert; Riverside Parks and Recreation, Johnson Hall Community Center, Banning Community Center and Lifeway Church.

If your youth organization would like information about Power Up Your Summer! Challenge, please contact Pamela Sit at (909) 382- 3913 or psit@dph.sbcounty.gov.

-Staff Reports

 

Google & Site Search