Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- February 19, 2008

Creative indoor activities give children bad-weather exercise (:43)

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Suggested Intro:

THE STORMS AND COLD OF FEBRUARY CAN REALLY CUT INTO A CHILD'S OUTDOOR PLAY OPPORTUNITIES, SO PARENTS AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS SHOULD DEVELOP A FEW CREATIVE OPTIONS FOR WHEN CABIN FEVER STARTS TO SETTLE IN. GARY ABDULLAH HAS THE STORY:

Story:

(:10) DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH, SAYS A PENN STATE EXTENSION CHILD CARE EDUCATOR WHO OFFERS A FEW TIPS FOR BURNING OFF EXCESS YOUTHFUL ENERGY.
(:08) BETTER KID CARE PROGRAM SPECIALIST NANCY WILSON SAYS THERE'S LOTS OF ACTIVE PLAY THAT FITS INDOORS WHEN THE WEATHER'S IMPOSSIBLE :

Wilson Actuality:
(:17) "MAYBE PLAY SOME MUSIC AND LET THE KIDS DANCE…AND THEY CAN FORM A MARCHING BAND AND MAKE THEIR OWN INSTRUMENTS AND MARCH AROUND THE ROOM. THEY CAN CRUMPLE UP SOME OLD NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES AND HAVE A PRETEND SNOWBALL FIGHT. Y'KNOW, THAT GETS RID OF LOTS OF ENERGY, AND BUSY KIDS BEHAVE BETTER."

(:09) SOME CHILDREN MAY BE CONTENT TO SIT ALL DAY, WILSON SAYS, AND SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED INTO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO AVOID THE GROWING PROBLEM OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.

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Learn more:

Keep On Moving! (College of Agricultural Sciences publication in PDF format -- Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

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