Fitness a lesson best taught early

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Fitness a lesson best taught early

 

Event shows exercise, doctors are a good thing

 

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050804/LIFE/508040313/1005/life

http://tinyurl.com/d3wg2

 

BY KEILANI BEST

FLORIDA TODAY

 

August 4, 2005

 

Melbourne Square mall was a hive of activity last weekend, with children of assorted ages were jumping, dancing, wiggling and faithfully taking their beloved Cabbage Patch Kids in for "checkups."

 

This "Feelin' Groovy" event with Radio Disney got parents talking about the importance of exercise for their children.

 

"It's very important," said Felicia McKenzie of Palm Bay, a mother of three sons, who were happily pouncing on an "In the Groove" interactive video game where kids had to stomp on mats to play. "Every child needs to be active. It needs to start when they're really, really early, whether indoor or outdoor play."

 

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination, 16 percent of children ages 6 to 19 were overweight in its 1999 to 2002 survey. That's a 45 percent increase from estimates during the same entity's 1988-94 survey.

 

With today's generation being cited as the most inactive generation of our time, many people are recognizing the importance of physical activity among youth. And many corporations are taking an active role in making sure kids stay active.

 

Kimberly Munoz, promotions manager for Radio Disney, said one thing corporations are doing is using their products to teach children that exercise can be fun.

 

Disney sponsors the nationwide mall tour that promotes fitness and wellness among children. Melbourne Square mall was one of the first stops for the tour in the nation.

 

"We're teaching them how to be comfortable with doctor's visits," Munoz said. "We're saying, 'Let's have fun,' and we're sneaking in some exercise as well."

 

Another company that's recognizing the need for 'tweens to stay active is RTF Productions. RTF is responsible for Savvy, a pop group made up of youngsters ages 6 to 12 whose music can be heard on the likes of Radio Disney.

 

Savvy has put out a hip-hop dance instruction video to encourage children to not only enjoy listening to their favorite age-appropriate tunes, but to also become active.

 

"We're hoping they're wanting to get up off the couch and practice it everyday," said Judy Baker, business development director of RTF Productions.

 

The video contains instruction by choreographer Glenn Douglas Packer, and dance moves such as crumping and the Harlem shake.

 

"We made the DVD easy so that kids who have never exercised before can learn," Baker said.

 

4Kids Entertainment, the entertainment and merchandise-licensing conglomerate behind such sensations as Pokemon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Nintendo, has recognized the importance of fitness and exercise among today's kids. The company decided to join Radio Disney for its mall tour by adding the Cabbage Patch Kids to the tour's roster.

 

"We wanted to make exercise and health fun," said Colleen Nuskey, vice president of sales and marketing for 4Kids Entertainment. "Since Cabbage Patch Kids are all about nurturing and taking care of something that belongs to you, it kind of resonates you teaching your kid to do something and you learning at the same time."

 

Children were encouraged to bring their Cabbage Patch Kids for health and wellness checkups by "doctors" who were on location. Based on how well the children answered information, they were given "prescriptions" for things such as TLC.

 

Terisa Hassall said she makes sure her children, ages 7 and 10, get a healthy dose of activity, and said that exercise rates as "very important" on her scale.

 

"We get out in the morning, afternoon and night," the Melbourne resident said. "We go swimming and biking."

 

She also said her children, a boy and a girl, are active in Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, respectively.

 

One reason why corporations may have taken a keen interest in children and fitness is that the adults who run those corporations notice a vast difference from their active childhoods and the sedentary lifestyles of today's youth.

 

"I'm 50 this year," Baker said. "I was always outside playing, jumping, running. That's what we did, and we were healthier. I see kids now, and they're not strong, they're not healthy, they're not active, and it worries me."

 

Contact Best at 242-3784 or kbest@flatoday.net