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Currently In Fit
Kids
The
Fit Kids Program is currently operating as a non-profit organization
housed at East Tennessee State University. The Fit Kids program is
primarily supported through grants and small donations within the
community. Fit Kid’s main supporter is Mountain States Health
Alliance.
Fit Kids is
currently in 3 local counties: Washington County, Unicoi County,
and Carter County.
Within those
counties Fit Kids visits 9 Elementary Schools at least twice a week
to offer our supplemental Physical Education/Wellness program to
Pre-K through 5th grade.
Our Fit Kids
instructors are involved in a week of training and observing before
entering their schools. Two of our Fit Kids instructors are the
sole Physical Education Teacher in their schools! These are our
schools with most need. They do not have the funding to hire a
Physical Education Teacher, and therefore, rely on Fit Kids to teach
their children the importance of health and fitness. Without Fit
Kids their children simply have “play time,” they would know little
of the importance of exercise! This is just one reason we feel the
community is still in need of the Fit Kids Program.
The other Fit
Kids instructors are fortunate enough to have Physical Education
Teachers in their schools. In these schools we feel it is important
for the classroom teachers to get involved with the teaching of
fitness and nutrition. Here the Fit Kids instructors will spend
15-20 minutes in each classroom giving “brain breaks.” These “brain
breaks” serve as a time when the pencils go down and the kids get up
! The Fit Kids instructor will spend the next 15 minutes teaching
the class activities that will get their heart rates up and remind
them once again of the importance of fitness and living a healthy
lifestyle. Many studies have been conducted stating that these
frequent breaks during the day help the children perform better in
the classroom, as well as, get the much needed exercise they need
during the day. (Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health
Media-2006)
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