Active kids = WAY smarter kids article

[ReneeW]

Interesting article in the Star Tribune today -- kids who were more active had a HUGE improvement in their test scores and learning. Which makes me wonder why don't more schools do this? I want MY kids' school to do this for sure!! It makes sense on so many levels.

www.startribune.com/local/south/148459015.html

Which brings me to -- why are so many schools (it seems to me) slow to change and adopt healthier practices when the healthier ones are simple? Why can't they change more quickly and adopt "best practices" more easily? To me it just makes sense. Hmmm, maybe I need to contact my school board!!

[ReneeW]

It also makes me want to be very, very certain that my kids get outside to play and run around EVERY day, even when it's cold and rainy or whatever. So I suppose I should look at this and think about my own responsibility as a parent to make sure my kids are active every every EVERY day. Because I gotta admit, on those cold days I'm like, hmmmm .... let's read a book! When I should be like, "Hey, let's play in the rain!!! Get your rain gear on!"

[dara1012]

I love that our gym has an indoor playground. It makes is so much easier to get DS active on days that the weather is not cooperating - I don't like to be wet and cold and he is too little to play outside by himself. He is a much happier kid when he is active. At his daycare he spends a lot of time playing outside in winter and summer, it will be harder when he is in elementary school I know with our busy work schedule and less of the natural built in time for physical activity. It's hard how things have changed in our society that for safety as parents we need to be much more involved in getting our kids active. When I was younger we just went outside and ran around. A good reminder that however difficult to fit in to schedules, physical activity is very important.