I hope you had a chance to attend our first Health Fair presented by the NEMJDS Health and P.E. Department. This event was organized by the leadership of Dr. Sarah Kunin, NEMJDS Board Member. The success of this event could not have happened without the help of many volunteer parents, doctors, nurses, science and art teachers! Students and parents had the opportunity to play games and participate in fun activities under the direction of all grades. We explored the food plate, how exercise affects the heart rate, what to do as a first responder to cuts, scrapes, bruises, and allergies (just a clue…LOTS of band aids!). With the help of Maria Azrad, PhD. The third and fourth graders compared a variety of drinks containing sugar, and finally, fifth, sixth, and eighth graders compared nutrition labels of whole foods to processed foods. If you didn’t have a chance to participate in the event, please ask your student what he or she learned and how you can provide healthier snacks and foods in your household. It is so important to be a good example for your children and show them how to eat healthy.
Other components of staying healthy is activity, exercise, limiting screen time and getting enough sleep. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a minimum of 60 minutes daily of moderate to vigorous physical activity for children. And yes, climbing trees are good for you!! As you can see in the photo, our kids love to climb the tree in our playground area at recess. Taking a walk with your family after a meal is another way to get some quality talk time in and digest your food better at the same time. We all know screen time is addictive. Just keep it to a reasonable amount of time per day and be consistent. Rest is so important in our daily lives. Make sure you have a consistent routine for your household so ALL of you can get the appropriate amount of rest for your bodies. Children ages 6-12 need 9-12 hours of sleep per 24 hour day. Sweet Dreams! Stay healthy!
