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JUNE 2004

We’ve Come a Long Way From Only Volleyball
by Dr. Carole G. Hankin with Randi T. Sachs

It’s true…kids today are more sophisticated than we were at their age. They have more choices to make in just about everything. One of the things parents and schools can help students choose is to make physical fitness a priority in their lives.

Physical education class in school is no longer a time when the students get tossed a few balls so they can hurl them at one another for a game of dodge ball or over a net for volleyball. In Syosset, our middle school students have a program called Fitness Fridays. The class is set up in various stations for activities that promote muscle strengthening, aerobic exercise, agility building, and also allow for flexibility, creativity, and of course, fun. After a minute at each station, the students rotate to the next one—very much like the 30-minute workout centers for women that have become so popular. I recently observed one of these classes, and saw that the students were genuinely interested in keeping their bodies fit, and were gaining self confidence as they recognized their own personal improvement as they went from station to station. In addition, the teacher explained to them the benefits of the individual activities. They learned the importance of cardiovascular workouts and why they needed to make exercise and fitness a lifelong practice. This is perhaps the component of physical education that has been missing for so long. Instead of simply engaging in exercise or learning a sport, the students are being informed on just why these physical activities are important, and how they can use what they learn in school outside of class and for the rest of their lives.

Summer is almost here, and with it our children have more choices to make. Will they stay in the air-conditioned den and play video games or surf the web, or will they choose a more physical activity—ride a bicycle, take a walk, swim, or play a sport? This summer, physical education will be up to you, and you can make it a family affair.

Serving as a role model in valuing fitness and putting in the physical effort to keep your body strong is important if you want your children to take physical fitness seriously. However, the good news is that it doesn’t require you to drastically alter your lifestyle.

Students are learning that just three 30-minute workouts per week will be very beneficial to maintaining a healthy body and cardiovascular system. Find a routine that best suits your children and you and schedule it at a time that does not interfere with anything your children will see as a higher priority. If you’re planning outdoor activity, make it either before or after the midday sun.

This summer, I hope you will try to make physical fitness a part of your family’s lives. It’s a choice that we all know is for the best.#

Dr. Hankin is Superintendent of Syosset Central School District. Randi Sachs is Public Information Officer of Syosset Schools.

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