ActivEd Blog

Halloween is almost here! Are you ready to handle the treats kids will collect from your neighbors? Today.com shared some interesting ideas on how to make sure that the candy stash is managed in a healthy way. 

1. Swap it. Have your child leave candy out for the "Great Pumpkin" or the "Switch Witch." In return, give them a (calorie free) gift!

2. Ration/Disappear it. Only let your child have a few pieces of candy a day. Then, slowly hide the candy. 

3. Sell it. Some dentist's offices will buy candy for cash. The Halloween Candy Buyback site can help you find a dentist who buys candy! 

4. Donate it. Look for a place in your community that welcomes treats. Consider nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or other groups. 

5. Save it. Use the candy for craft projects, science experiments, or to fill a piñata! 

6. Bake it. Look for recipes here. 

7. Stash it, and forget it. Out of site, out of mind!

8. Let it go. Sometimes we all need treats, but in moderation. 

Though Today.com didn't suggest it, we have another suggestion: work off the calories with your family! Maybe play a football game, take a hike to look at the fall colors, or play a fun game of tag to help get work off the Halloween treat calories.

Looking to make exercise educational? Walkabouts can help prekindergarten through second grade students get active! Want to find out how Walkabouts can help keep your students healthy? Learn more!

The obesity epidemic in the United States is a challenge. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 33% of students between the ages of 2 and 19 are overweight. Breakingmuscle.com has some great suggestions for preventing childhood obesity. Their suggestions:

1. Lead by Example

Kids learn by seeing. When you model healthy choices, kids mimic them! Remember, little eyes are watching. Making the right choices can have a huge impact on the children in your life.

2. Strength Training and Cardiovascular Training

Strength training can decrease body fat and increase muscle mass, improving body composition. Help kids take part in physical activity that turns fat to muscle to fight obesity!

3. Proper Nutrition

Following theHealthy Food Plate and making sure kids are eating well balanced diets can make a huge impact on kids' weight!

4. Encourage Kids to Be Kids and Let Them Play

By putting down the electronics and instead riding bikes or playing sports, kids are physically active and can still hang out with their friends. Teaching games helps students gain both skills and a healthy weight.

5. Support P.E. and Organized Recreation

Research shows that organized physical activity both in and out of schools makes a huge difference in both a child's weight and his or her academic success. Active students perform better academically!

Walkabouts can help prekindergarten through second grade students get active! Want to find out how Walkabouts can help keep your students healthy? Learn more!

Looking for a way to add excitement to your physical education class? Try CrossFit! Chicago schools have been integrating CrossFit into their classrooms with great results:

"I think it's a great way to teach kids lifelong fitness, especially those kids who aren't interested in hockey or soccer or basketball," said teacher Tracy Haraf of Alsip's Stony Creek Elementary, which devotes half of its PE days to CrossFit exercises. "They think it's tough, but I think they have a lot of fun doing it."

What is CrossFit? CrossFit is a popular form of exercise created by Greg Glassmann. From CrossFit.com:

"Promoted as both a physical exercise philosophy and also as a competitive fitness sport, CrossFit workouts incorporate elements from high-intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics, girevoy sport, calisthenics, strongman, and other exercises."

In Chicago schools, CrossFit classes have become popular. They are held every period, and keep kids focused on fitness! 

Looking for a lower-impact workout for your classroom? Interested in how Walkabouts can help keep your students healthy? Learn more!

At ActivEd, we believe that everyone needs a healthy, balanced life. To support that, we are starting a new blog series called Be healthy and fit Friday.

Our product, Walkabouts, focuses on active learning. While active learning is important, it is just one of many things that can help our children (and us!) live healthy lifestyles and develop healthy habits. 

This week, our focus is the Healthy Eating Plate created by a team at Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School. The Healthy Eating Plate is based on the best research available and details what a healthy diet includes. Key elements are:

• Whole grains
• Healthy protein
• Fruits
• vegetables
• Healthy oils
• Water

Staying active is an important component of healthy eating as noted on the Healthy Eating Plate. We all know that eating right and staying active are keys to healthy living. The Healthy Eating Plate is a great way to make sure you and those you love are fueling your bodies to stay fit! 

Want to learn more about how Walkabouts can help keep your students healthy? Learn more!