When Schools Fall Short

If your school is not offering the recommended minutes, or if the subject is taught by a classroom teacher who has not jogged since gas cost 50 cents a gallon, it is unlikely your child is getting the 30 minutes of movement at least 5 days a week that the state mandates students need. Here's what you can do to pick up the slack.

• Get involved - talk to your child's PE teacher and/or school principal aboutthe program; stop and observe the class. Inquire with whtat is happenting in After-school programs. Ask: "How often is PE taught?" "How much of the class is spent being active?" and "Who's playing, and what are they doing?"
• Get active - Studies suggest that families that play together stay fit together. Include play time like riding bikes or going to the gym together, add these into the family mix and just have fun.
• Get outside - Turn off the television and the computer, and send the kids outside. Join and encourage them to develop a healthy lifestyle.

Focus on fit for the whole family and get physical :>