Health & Physical Education

Dear Parents,

Over the past three decades the prevalence of obesity in America's children and youth has skyrocketed.  Obesity is know to increase risk for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and many forms of cancer.  Because obese children are very likely to become obese adults, preventing the development of obesity during early childhood and adolescence is critical to promotion of lifelong health.

Prevention of obesity requires maintenance of "energy balance."  This is condition in which the energy expended in physical activity and other metabolic activities is balanced by the intake of energy in the diet.  Obesity develops when energy intake chronically exceeds energy expenditure.  Today's lifestyles often include foods that are high in calories; at same time, the demands for physical activity tend to be low.  This is called a "toxic environment,"  and it certainly increases the chances of our children becoming overweight.  Attacking this problem requires helping our children adopt healthy habits associated with diet and exercise.  Appropriate habits developed in childhood can become the basis for good health throughout life.

Experts have recommended that children and youth receive at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity and consume at least five portions of fruits and vegetables each day.  Dreamland Academy have adapted a unique program that students will have fun doing.  Not all children like basketball or football or soccer.  Maybe their passion is taekwondo, or kickball or dance.  At Dreamland, students are exposed to a number of physical activities.  In any case, children should find ways to be active every day.  Encourage your children to turn off the television or playing computer games and get active.  They can select from a number of activities they have learned during PE or in their aftercare class to stay physically fit.