What's Caffeine and How Does It Affect Kids?

competitive to noncompetitive sports from exercise Frank Ngo At Farmington High School, we classes to playing with friends. Skateboarding, in- Physical Educator @ Farmington High School line skating, yoga, swimming, dancing, or kicking a Phone (123) 456-7890 focus on community health so footbag in the driveway all qualify as great fitness children, students and parents activities. Weight training, under supervision of a qualified adult, can improve strength and help are educated about the habits of prevent sports injuries. The possibilities to get a healthy and active lifestyle physically fit are endless.

Teens can also incorporate activity into their AMERICA RUNS ON DUNKIN? everyday routine, such as walking to school, doing chores, or finding an active part-time job. Even younger teens can enjoy opportunities to take on What's Caffeine and How Does It Affect Kids? new responsibilities and be in charge, so jobs as junior camp counselors, baby sitters, or assistant A stimulant that affects children and adults coaches for young sports teams can serve that need similarly, caffeine is a drug that's naturally produced while also providing the child with a chance to be in the leaves and seeds of many plants. Caffeine is active. also made artificially and added to certain foods. http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitnes Caffeine is defined as a drug because it stimulates s/fitness_13_18.html the central nervous system. At lower levels, caffeine can make people feel more alert and like they have more energy. PROMOTING PHYSICAL EDUCATION http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutriti on/caffeine.html A good quality physical education can:

In both kids and adults, too much caffeine can  include all children and young people, cause: whatever their cultural background and physical and cognitive abilities  jitteriness and nervousness  enhance social inclusion and engagement  upset stomach in school life  headaches  develop pupils' confidence and self- esteem  difficulty concentrating  contribute to the social life of the school  difficulty sleeping and its ethos  increased heart rate  provide foundation skills and knowledge  increased blood pressure for a lifetime of activity. http://www.healthpromotingschools.co.uk FITNESS IN THE TEEN YEARS

Physical activity tends to decline during the teen years. Many teens are dropping out of organized sports and participation in daily physical education classes is becoming a thing of the past.

But given the opportunity and interest, teens can pick up on almost any activity that they enjoy, from Physical Education

 strong muscles and bones So there's a lot to gain through regular physical PHYSICAL  weight control activity, but how do you encourage kids to do it? The three keys are:  decreased risk of diabetes KIDUCATION  better sleep 1. Choosing the right activities for a child's a better outlook on life  age: If you don't, the child may be bored or frustrated. KIDACTIVE Not only that. Healthy, physically active students 2. Giving a child plenty of opportunity to be are more likely to be academically motivated, alert, active: Kids need parents to make activity Benefits of Being Active and successful. And physical competence builds easy by providing equipment and taking self-esteem at every age. them to playgrounds and other active spots. When kids are active, their bodies can do the things What Motivates Kids? 3. Keeping the focus on fun: Kids won't do they want and need them to do. Why? Because something they don't enjoy. regular exercise provides these benefits: When kids enjoy an activity, they want to do more  Have your child to rest for a while after a of it. Practicing a skill — whether it's swimming or nosebleed. Discourage nose-blowing, riding a tricycle — improves a child's abilities. The picking, or rubbing, and any rough play. child feels accomplished, especially when the effort http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_ is praised. These good feelings often make the child safe/emergencies/nose_bleed.html want to continue the activity and even try others Percentage of High School Students Participating in Physical Activity and Physical Education, by Sex, 200510 CONNECTING WITH YOUR Overweight Among Youth PRE-TEEN Type of Activity Girls Boys Your preteen may act as if your guidance isn't welcome  The prevalence of overweight among At least 60 minutes/day of 27.8% 43.8% or needed, and even seem embarrassed by you at times. children aged 6-11 has more than doubled physical activitya This is when kids start to confide more in peers and in the past 20 years, increasing from 7% in request their space and privacy - expect the bedroom 3,4 Attended physical education 29.0% 37.1% 1980 to 18.8% in 2004. b door to be shut more often. class daily http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/preteen.h  Children and adolescents who are tml overweight are more likely to be a Any kind of physical activity that increased heart overweight or obese as adults.5,6,7 rate and made them breathe hard some of the time Things you can do Overweight adults are at increased risk for for at least 60 minutes per day on 5 or more of the 7 heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, days preceding the survey diabetes, some types of cancer, and b Attended physical education classes 5 days in an  Family Meals gallbladder disease.8 average week when they were in school  Bedtime & Goodnight  Share Ordinary Time  Create Special Time Participation in Physical Activity by Young  Show Affection People Participation in Physical Education Classes  Stay Involved  Stay Interested  During the 7 days preceding the survey,  Over half (54%) of high school students FIRST AID & SAFETY 77% of children aged 9-13 reported (72% of 9 grade students but only 39% of participating in free-time physical activity, 12 grade students) attended physical 10 What to Do: and 39% reported participating in education classes in 2005. organized physical activity.9

 The percentage of high school students  Stay calm and reassure your child.  Thirty-six percent of high school students who attended physical education classes  With your child upright in a chair or in had participated in at least 60 minutes per daily decreased from 42% in 1991 to 25% your lap, tilt his or her head slightly day of physical activity on 5 or more of in 1995, and has remained stable at that forward. the 7 days preceding the survey.10 level until 2005 (33%). In 2005, 45% of 9  Gently pinch the nose (just below the grade students but only 22% of 12 grade bony ridge) with a tissue or clean  Sixty-four percent of high school students students attended physical education class washcloth. participated in sufficient vigorous physical daily.10  Keep pressure on the nose for about 10 activity, and 27% participated in sufficient minutes; if you stop too soon, bleeding moderate physical activity.10  Among the 54% of students who attended may start again. It may also help to apply physical education classes, 84% actually ice wrapped in a paper towel.  Participation in physical activity declines exercised or played sports for 20 minutes 10  Do not have your child lean back. This as children get older. or longer during an average class. may cause blood to flow down the back of the throat, which tastes bad and may cause http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/physicalactivity/f gagging, coughing, or vomiting. acts.htm