21st Century Grants support the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular…
As childhood obesity grows, steps taken to get kids moving Eighth Street Elementary School student Aubree Grubbs furiously peddled a stationary bicycle one recent evening at the Frank DeLuca YMCA Family Center. Holding a video game controller, Aubree looked up at a television screen and guided a bicycle along a virtual course. The 6-year-old was not there just to get…
This study suggests virtual “cybercycling” can produce a beneficial cognitive effect over and above traditional exercise. Physical exercise may prevent or delay dementia. However, getting older people regularly moving is a particular challenge, as evidenced by the fact that only 14 percent of adults aged 65 to 74 years and 7 percent of those over 75 years exercise regularly. More…
Kids today cannot run as fast or as far as their parents did, which may indicate their health will worsen as adults, according to new research from the University of South Australia’s School of Health Sciences. To determine children’s cardiovascular fitness over the years, researchers analyzed 50 studies about running fitness conducted between 1964 and 2010. The studies involved more…
On Saturday, November 2nd 2013, the brand new Eastlake YMCA located in Chula Vista, CA launched a very successful grand opening of its state of the art, multi-purpose, family friendly fitness epicenter. But there was something that made this grand opening party even more intriguing to the members, media and guests that were eager to get a peek inside. Yes, the Eastlake YMCA (like many other YMCA’s across the country) partnered…
The Obama administration’s obsession with childhood obesity appears to have reached a new level with a $1.2 million government grant to help middle school students create fitness video games known as “exergames.” The National Science Foundation recently gave researchers at a public university in Indiana the money to tackle two national challenges; increasing children’s interest in science, technology, engineering and…
From San Diego to Ocala, Fla., YMCA’s around the country are taking action to fix fitness for the next generation of Y members. Exergame Fitness is proud to partner with different YMCA’s around the country who help their communities by keeping kids active and fight childhood obesity. YMCA’s with an exergame room understand that to keep kids coming back for…
PE: Not Enough, Little Structure, Few Resources Almost all educators (98%) said their schools offer PE, but 43% of educators and 32% of parents said PE at their schools is inadequate. Of those educators, most said that not enough time is devoted to PE and that it should be offered daily and throughout the school year. Our classes have been…
U.S. Cellular’s “Calling All Communities” campaign challenges schools to gather community support for a chance to win $25,000 in order to enhance their educational experience. Edison Elementary, located in Appleton, WI, is one of the schools that is participating in the challenge to implement a wellness room. For the past few years, Edison Elementary has strongly focused on the health…
Part One: Parents and Teachers Weigh In An overwhelming majority of parents and teachers want health and physical education to be a mandatory part of the school day, according to a KidsHealth online survey taken by 1,173 parents and K-12 educators. The problem is that a significant number of schools don’t offer health classes. And many schools that do have…
Fit Interactive astonished the fitness industry with its emergence in 2008, the first truly interactive fitness equipment on the market. The technology infuses proven training principles with entertaining exercise platforms. Invented and endorsed by fitness experts, trainers around the world agree this equipment provides the perfect tool for engaging clients of all ages. The 3Kick, HeavyBall, and JumpQ, enhance speed,…
Children are choosing to play digital games for hours during their leisure time. On an average day, children as young as eight spend as many hours engaged in media activity as they spend in school; three-quarters of American children play computer and video games. Despite their reputation as promoters of violence and mayhem, digital games have in fact been shown…
