Blue Valley Schools
Exercise, Nutrition & Sleep
Exercise
- Exercise is essential to achieving and maintaining a healthy body. Not only does exercise provide cardiovascular benefits, strengthen bones and build muscle, it also plays an important role in improving moods and helping prepare our brains to learn.
- As our culture becomes more sedentary because of modern conveniences for transportation, communication and recreation, physical activity is not as second nature as it once was. Because of this, we must be more intentional about incorporating exercise into our daily lives. Organized sports, community recreation centers and simply finding activities that our children enjoy that keep them moving are all ways to promote an active lifestyle.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids get 60 minutes of exercise a day. These 60 minutes will look different depending on each child's interests and individual circumstances. We also know that our weather plays a key role in our exercise options. When outdoor activities aren't possible, local recreation centers or YMCA facilities can provide great alternatives. Many offer workout facilities, exercise classes and even indoor pools with swim lessons or open family swim hours for a minimal fee. It's important to expose our kids to a variety of activities so they view exercise as enjoyable and something to look forward to. Helping children live an active lifestyle not only provides physical and mental health benefits but also teaches them healthy ways to manage stress and grow into their full potential.
Nutrition
Children's bodies and minds develop from birth until about 23 years old. Good nutrition is essential for building strong bodies and supporting brain development for learning. Schools are required to provide balanced school lunch programs, but healthy food choices start at home. Make a plan as a family to prioritize nutritious meals and snacks at home. Below are resources to help families make informed decisions about healthy eating. These include sites for those with special health needs, ensuring that everyone can benefit from reliable nutrition information.
Local
- Blue Valley Schools website - find out about the school lunch program for Blue Valley School District
- Local grocers in our area have employed nutritionist to assist you
for making healthy food choices for family meals and snacks. Inquire at your local grocery. - Children's Mercy - learn more about healthy habits for kids from Children’s Mercy.
Nationwide
- Mayo Clinic
- CDC (Center for Disease Control) - then type in a search for the type of nutrition advice you are looking for
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Healthy Children
- National Institute of Health
Speciality Areas
Sleep
A student's performance during the day is affected by the amount of quality sleep obtained and is linked to chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, as well as affecting the effective treatment of those diseases. Students that are chronically fatigued may also struggle with the inability to focus and stay on task and to participate and complete classwork.
Sleep Requirements
Sleep requirements change as a person ages:
- Preschool-11-12 hours per day
- School age-At least 10 hours per day
- Teens-9-10 hours per day
Sleep loss on a daily basis is accumulative over the period of a week and is known as "sleep debt." Attempting to decrease the sleep debt by sleeping late on days off or napping is ineffective and can result in altering the body clock. If a student appears to be getting the recommended amount of quality sleep and still appears fatigued, a medical assessment should be obtained.
Resources