What is physical activity?
The Stay Active program was developed to help your family be physically active – even during a pandemic. This week we will talk more on what physical activity is, what the national recommendations are, and how to track your child’s activity!
What exactly is ‘physical activity?’ Physical activity is any movement of the body that uses energy. Typically, when we talk about physical activity, we’re talking about movements that at least make singing hard to do, but not necessarily so hard that you can’t talk at all (although that level of intensity is sometimes needed). See below for examples of different activities and intensities. Intensity just means how hard the body is working to be active. Click here if you want to learn more about measuring your activity intensity.
How much physical activity do we need? Adults and children have different physical activity needs.
Children: The American Academic of Pediatrics recommends children try to be active for 60 minutes each day! These 60 minutes do not all need to be at the same time. You can break them up into 15-minute blocks.
Adults: The Department of Health and Human Services issues the Physical Activity
Guidelines for Americans which recommends that adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week. This is commonly broken down to encourage 30 minutes of activity 5 times a week.
Family Activity Corner
We want to encourage you and your child to start thinking about what your current physical activity habits are and see if you meet the physical activity recommendations. Does your child play or practice sports throughout the week? Does your family go on walks together (walking the dog counts)? As a family, you can walk to a new place in your neighborhood that you have been wanting to explore, or you can walk to your favorite picnic spot and have a picnic! We have provided a worksheet you and your child can fill out over the next two weeks to see your physical activity habits.
BONUS: Encourage your child to use their new Garmin to help track their activity! Try experimenting with the device! See what exercises give them the most steps.
Brain Breaks: Help your child practice getting up and moving by using the ideas below. These can be done together, or you can encourage your child to do them by themselves.
· Listen to a favorite song and go on a walk around the block for a break!
· Take a lap! Walk around the house and count the steps.
· Review and do the 5 “moves to know” from last week’s newsletter.
· Stand up and do 10 jumping jacks.
· Visit GoNoodle.com and select a dance video to have a quick dance party.
· Do an activity for 2-3 minutes and see how many steps it is! Compare the different activities and see which one gets the most steps.
COVID-19 Updates
Don’t forget to wash your hands! Wash with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. You can sing a song, like Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star or Happy Birthday, to help you get to 20 seconds.
Current cases in the Kansas City, MO area: .https://covid-19-response-in-kcmo-kcmo.hub.arcgis.com/
Visit the Stay Active Website for more information and resources
Contact us with any questions or concerns related to the Stay Active Program:
816-287-0262