View the 
Fit Kids
 Brochure

Participate in local and national activities
that promote healthy eating and physical activity.
Download “Fit Kids Back to School Activities 2010".

Kids “Dig” School Gardens

Something new may be sprouting in the school yard this spring. Gardens in all shapes and sizes have become a popular tool for outdoor science and environmental education. School gardens provide a means for students to study nature, learn work habits and develop appropriate social attitudes. Gardening is highly interactive with its emphasis on hands-on learning and active participation.
School gardens benefit students and classrooms in the following ways:

• Improve attitudes about the environment
• Promote good nutrition
• Increase physical activity
• Teach patience and responsibility
• Encourage students to work cooperatively, enhancing social skills
• Build classroom relationships and school spirit
• Support interdisciplinary education
• Beautify the school environment

There are many advantages to using gardens to teach nutrition. Gardens provide a site for hands-on learning to practice using the scientific method. Students obtain a greater appreciation for how their food is grown. (Carrots do not magically appear on grocery store shelves.) Gardens can give students a better understanding of food processes as they observe growth, maintain plants and participate in harvest. Gardens can be used to teach food safety through proper harvest, processing and storage techniques. Children may have the opportunity to prepare nutritious foods and try new foods to expand their diets. They are often excited about eating fruits and vegetables that they grew themselves. Nutrition education through school gardens increases children's knowledge about fruits and vegetables, which may improve their attitudes towards these foods and lead to better eating habits. Gardening is a lifetime skill that promotes better health and wellness.

Other subjects can also be taught through class gardens including math and English. Many schools encourage students to keep “gardening journals.” Gardens can increase children's respect for nature and facilitate physical, mental and moral development.
Home gardens can build on the experience of gardening at school. Even apartment dwellers can create a garden using containers that are suitable for growing many flowers, plants, vegetables and fruits. Gardening at home enables children to observe the cycles of nature more closely and see the products of their work on a daily basis. Along with the fun of “getting dirty,” gardening helps children learn valuable lessons about patience as they wait for their seeds to grow and responsibility as they see how necessary their care is for success. Gardening can be a fun family activity, providing an opportunity to be physically active together. And the family can collectively enjoy the products of their labor – whether it’s fruit, vegetables or flowers.

 

Take the APOGEE Fit Kids Challenge. Westchester County government is joining forces with APOGEE Pilates & Wellness Centers, a new Pilates-based wellness center, to kick-off the APOGEE Fit Kids Challenge and encourage students and their parents to practice healthy activities at home and in school this spring. Students can award themselves points for engaging in physical activity, limiting their TV and gaming time and eating healthy snacks, which are key to preventing obesity. The program engages parents in the process by asking them to sign off on their accomplishments. View the Fit Kids Challenge Brochure

No Junk Food Week
View the No Junk Food Week flyer    Download the No Junk Food Week Contract    Healthy Snacks flyer (English/Spanish)   Letter to Parents (English)   (Spanish)             -Healthy snack recipes for home             -Healthy snack recipes for schools

 

See what schools are doing for the 
Fit Kids Campaign: