Health and Physical Fitness Resources for Kids

People of every age have good reasons to pursue health and physical fitness. Children, adults, and seniors can all benefit from leading an active lifestyle and eating a nutritious diet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults get a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise of moderate intensity every week. Older adults over age 65 should also strive for this goal as long as they are in good health. Kids between the ages of 6 and 17 need at least one hour of exercise every day. Exercising and eating well helps control weight, and it reduces the risks of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Pursuing a healthy lifestyle may even help people feel happier and live longer.

Nutrition

• Nutrition From the Ground Up (PDF): This lesson plan presents healthful eating, the different food groups, and information about planning healthy menus for a family.
• Understanding Nutrition Facts Labels (PDF): Learning how to read and understand food labels helps people make smarter menu choices. This lesson plan teaches label-reading.
• 101 Tips for Teaching Nutrition Concepts in Physical Education (PDF): Teaching nutrition begins with the basics, such as encouraging people to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
• Fun Nutrition Activities for the Family (PDF): Understanding the food guide pyramid helps people know the foods they need to eat each day. With this basic knowledge, people can make wiser food choices.
• Sports Nutrition Kit (PDF): Nutrition and fitness are integrally connected. This kit helps explain the importance of a healthy diet for anyone who wants to engage in physical activities.
• Conquering Picky Eating With Nutrition Education Activities (PDF): Some children dislike specific smells or textures in foods, which can lead to picky eating. It's also common for kids to avoid trying new foods. Parents can help eliminate picky eating with specific tactics.
• Fad Diet Timeline: Move the pointer through history to learn about fad diets that were popular during different eras.
• Summer Food and Fun! Outdoor Nutrition Activities (PDF): This packet of activities includes many educational ideas to help teach kids about nutrition, including the "eat a rainbow" game and "food group tag" relay racing.
• Guide for Nutritional Coaches (PDF): Games such as "grapes and tennis balls" teach kids about proper serving sizes to help them avoid overeating.
• Calcium Quiz: Make sure you are getting enough calcium every day by taking this simple quiz.
• Create a Grocery Game Plan (PDF): Before entering the grocery store, make a game plan to ensure that you shop wisely according to your budget and a healthy menu.
• Food Quiz: This interactive food quiz helps kids understand the importance of food choices for overall health.
• Make a Balanced Plate: Knowing the food groups is the first step in choosing healthy foods for each meal. This game helps kids experiment with creating different meals.
• LDL Buster: Learn about LDL cholesterol with this game to help minimize unhealthy plaque in arteries.
• Eat, Play, Win With Fruits and Vegetables (PDF): Print this coloring page to help teach kids about fruits and vegetables.
• The Path to Fruits and Veggies (PDF): Middle-school kids can set out on a nutritional quest to add more fruits and vegetables to their diets with this activity.

Fitness

• Train Like An Astronaut: Building an Astronaut Core (video): This video will show people how to build strong core muscles like those needed by astronauts.
• Bicycling Activity Card: Riding a bicycle provides enjoyable exercise, which can build muscles and burn calories.
• Five Reasons Girls Should Play Sports: Participating in a sports program has benefits for both girls and boys.
• FBI Fitness Instructor (video): Watch this video to see what FBI agents need to do to attain the fitness requirements for this work.
• How to Make a Fitness Plan: A fitness plan includes goals such as exercising a specific number of times each week or incorporating various activities into a daily schedule.
• Ways to Stay Fit During Winter: Exercising during the winter can be challenging due to the weather. Choosing indoor activities such as a workout DVD or dancing can be possible options.
• Maintaining Your Health and Physical Fitness: Expert Recommendations: Exercise should be cardiovascular in nature to increase heart rate, and it should build muscle strength by working the major muscle groups.
• How to Be Active for Health: Exercise helps people avoid health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
• Exercise and Physical Activity: Getting Fit for Life (PDF): Exercise should include activities that build endurance and strength while enhancing flexibility and balance.
• Physical Fitness and Sports: Adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week, and children should participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
• Get Active: Regular exercise builds strong muscles and bones as well as helping to control weight.
• Fitness Tips to Keep You on Track: Anyone embarking on a new fitness routine should set small goals to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
• Ready, Get Fit, Go! (PDF): People who exercise regularly usually sleep better, have more energy, and feel happier.
• Staying Fit May Delay Onset of High Cholesterol: Some age-related illnesses may not occur as early in people who exercise regularly.
• Fitness and Exercise (PDF): Fitting exercise into a daily routine can be challenging, but there are ways to make this easier.
• The Secrets to Getting Fit at Any Age (PDF): Starting an exercise program after age 40 has significant health benefits.
• How Does Physical Activity Affect Cancer Survivorship? Continuing exercise after a cancer diagnosis can help reduce fatigue and other side effects.
• Fitting Fitness Into a Busy Schedule (PDF): Schedule specific times for exercise during the day to ensure that you make it a priority.

Human Body

• Movable Joints Charades (PDF): A rousing game of charades can teach people about the different types of movable joints.
• The Human Body (PDF): Different body parts have important functions to support the body. Games and activities teach about body parts and their purposes.
• The Incredible Machine: Your Body (PDF): The digestive system and nervous system are just two components of the human body with vital functions.
• Body Systems Lesson Plan (PDF): This lesson plan includes suggestions for activities and questions that will help teach students about the human body.
• It's All About Me! (PDF): The main body systems in the body include the skeletal, muscular, digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems.
• Teaching Body Systems (PDF): Students need to learn about the different purposes of each body system and how they work together.
• Human Body Systems Project (PDF): Complete a body systems project to learn about the different body systems and how they function.
• The Nervous System (PDF): The nervous system includes nerves, the spinal cord, and the brain, which function together.
• Waldorf Orthodontists: Orthodontists assist patients of all ages with misaligned teeth.
• Periodontist in Waldorf: A periodontist treats gum disease and assists patients with prevention of this issue.
• Waldorf Sedation Dentists: Sedation dentistry helps patients with pain control and anxiety during some dental procedures.