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Duke School Encourages Health Awareness at a Young Age
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Durham, NC February 24, 2010 -- Overweight and obese children is the number one topic on many Americans’ minds, including First Lady Michelle Obama. The CDC reports that overweight and obesity rates have doubled in the last twenty years among children ages 6-11. With this information, it becomes more important for young children to learn about what is good for their bodies and what is not. Duke School is encouraging awareness at a young age in hopes of reversing some of those statistics.
Duke School first grade teachers have been tackling this issue for the last few years with their Healthy Self Project. This is a project that gets young children involved in their own health destiny. What is closer to six and seven year olds than the food they eat? The Healthy Self Project is done in three phases. The first phase of this project begins with teachers surveying the students about what they do to keep their bodies healthy. The teachers receive responses such as:
“I do ballet to stay healthy because it stretches me and relaxes me.”
“I read to keep my brain healthy.”
“I eat well. I eat chicken, strawberries, and peas.”
Once the students start thinking about how they keep their own bodies healthy, the teachers invite in guest experts and introduce field experiences. This year the guest experts and field experience consist of a pediatrician performing a mock physical on a child while the other children took notes and did observational drawings of the tools she used; a yoga instructor who led a class entitled: Yoga for Children; a massage therapist who demonstrated ways massage helps muscles; and a psychiatrist who taught students that feelings affect their bodies. The class then visited Lifetime Fitness, a local health club. On the tour they learned about the pool, the exercise equipment, the spa and the café. At the end, all participated in a rock climbing class. Soon the students will have the opportunity to go on a “healthy” shopping tour at Lowe’s Food.
“I think this is an important concept during this huge obesity epidemic. This project teaches children that what tastes good is not always good for you. The children are developing an understanding of how different things affect their bodies. I am so glad that this project is available to children at such a young age” said first grade parent Darielle Ruderman.
The students are also looking at the Duke School community as a whole. They ask questions such as: are the teachers eating enough of the correct food groups, are they exercising and if so, for how long and how many days a week? Students become aware at a young age that they not only need to be aware of their personal health but, that it is also acceptable to offer others help.
“My son and I were on our way somewhere and we were getting on the elevator, he quickly said, mom we have to take the stairs it’s healthier. I am so excited about how much of this that he is retaining” said first grade parent Terri Kiesenhofer.
The concept of personal health goes beyond the basic lesson of what students can and cannot eat; it offers a diverse way of making them conscious of how different things affect their bodies, from emotions and eating well, to challenging the brain and exercise. It is about changing awareness. The intention is that students go home and tell their parents that they need more fruits in their lunch, or that they should play outside more.
“My child is finally beginning to jump rope because he has researched how good it is for him. He is reading labels and that gives us a chance at home to talk about healthy options such as healthy sugars and unhealthy sugars. With such an increase in overweight children I am so happy that he is getting this experience at a time when he is so interested in learning new things” said first grade parent Laura Tremaine.
To conclude the project, on March 23-26, 2010 from 8:45-9:45 a.m., the first grade classroom will be converted into a state-of-the-art wellness center. Parents, faculty, and administrators will be invited. The center offers a medical check-up by two first grade doctors, a relaxing massage in the spa, an aerobic workout, and guidance for healthier living by first grade health professionals. The first graders will also host a Snack Shop, where healthy foods are sold. The storekeepers bag and price the food and make attractive displays and signs. The cashiers total each client’s bill and make change. It is important to note that while learning about how to keep themselves healthy first graders are also doing math, science experiments, writing, and researching.
“This project is so important for our Duke School students. We are creating future leaders who will be working in various jobs at various levels. It is imperative that they learn how to balance work and life in a healthy way. They need to be aware that their health is primary in life, to make sure everything balance well” states Sandy Gillespie Lower School Director.
At Duke School, we give the children through the first few years of a school environment, with encouragement towards healthy eating, activity habits and a growing understanding of what keeps them healthy, we are hopeful this will contribute to reversing the trend toward obesity in young children. As noted here, many of the children have already begun sharing their new habits and information within their families and encouraging the circle of a healthy mindset to expand to the community. Duke School inspires learners to boldly and creatively shape their future.
Duke School was created by educators at Duke University who, in the late 1940s, wanted to create an environment where they could put into practice their research on project-based education. The school, which became independent in 1983, teaches Preschool through 8th-grade students. Duke School is preparing the next generation of problem solvers for our complex world.
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