It’s clear that the way we’re going to turn this around is by getting our children to be more active and helping them eat better.

Adding Nutrition to the Equation

For more than 30 years, Gymco has focused on teaching kids the importance of physical fitness in a healthy lifestyle…and we’ve made it fun! More and more, we recognize that fitness is only part of the total equation when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle.

Now, we are proud to bring the other half of the equation into our “children’s health club”. If you’ve been with us for awhile, you may have noticed that we (ahem…) gave our old vending machine the boot. We found it was full of that socially acceptable “junk”…that may be ok in moderation, but it wasn’t what we wanted children to believe was part of their healthy lifestyle. Instead, we want to be part of introducing children to healthier alternatives to snacks they already love.

Sooooo….this week, we are introducing a new member to our team. It’s a new vending machine called “Fresh and Healthy”… and it’s packed with healthy snack-time choices for everyone who walks through the doors at Gymco.

While we love this new opportunity to provide you with healthy snacks, we recognize that it’s one thing to offer the healthy choice alternative, it’s another to convince a child to try new foods. You’ve seen this at home just like the moms who work at Gymco have experienced! Sometimes it’s just plain easier to give kids what makes them happy instead of what keeps them healthy!

Carolyn, our marketing person here, has three young girls herself (ages 4 – 10). She says, “I found the struggle becomes a little easier when I talk to the girls about what good food and bad food does to their bodies. Educating them gives them a better understanding of why I may say ‘no’ to fistfuls of candy filled with sugar and artificial colors.” She continues, “It’s not like my girls love love love whole wheat bread. They’d much rather have the taste of the enriched white bread. But whenever they complain, I explain the difference and I’m no longer the bad guy that took away the yummy bread or the gushie fruit snacks…instead, I’m the mom who’s helping them make better food choices. I’m making the unhealthy food the ‘bad guy’!”

You are your child’s first educator on proper nutrition, whether it’s by example or by conversation. Here are a few tips to help your children learn about making those healthy choices :

Tips for Helping Children Make Healthy Food Choices

• Explain that the body is like a car. Cars need fuel to run, and so do our bodies. Food is fuel for bodies! Good fuel makes us GO! And bad fuel can make us SLOW….
• Providing basic nutritional information can help children in making better choices.
• Talk about Nutrients with your child. Nutrients are Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals and Water . (Stop into Gymco sometime to pick up some very helpful sheets we have that explain how each of these Nutrients work in our bodies! Or click here to view and print them now.)
• Look at a label together and talk about what’s in what they’re eating…and how it fuels their body. Compare a food choice that is unhealthy with a healthy counterpart. Look at the ingredients and the nutritional information. Talk about the differences.

Beyond the New Machine!

In addition to our new vending machine, we are proud to announce the addition of a new class we are rolling out this summer! The program is called “Fit4Fun” and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning June 4th and continuing through August 24th. All children entering 1st – 5th grade are welcome to enroll in this class that will teach them about fitness and nutrition in a fun environment. They might not even realize they’re learning…but they’ll take away lessons on healthy living that will last a lifetime!

We look forward to bringing you more blog posts in the future about healthy choices…from fun meal and snack ideas to giving a close look at nutrition labels. If there’s anything you’d like to specifically hear about, we welcome your comments and feedback!

“45 % of all parents feel they don’t have time to play with their children” (IKEA)

“73% of all children think it’s more fun to play with their parents than watch TV”.

I often hear parents say that their kids watch too much television. Now you know that YOU are the secret weapon to get your kids active! As difficult as it might seem, make yourself drop the chores and play with your kids. Play a game, go for a walk, to the park, bike riding, do silly dancing to music, cook together, so many possibilities! Take time to be a kid again – with your kids.

Every time you stop to play with your kids you make memories, increase the bond between you, and increase their self-esteem. You demonstrate that they are important to you by making time for them. There is no more powerful message than your time and attention!

My own kids are grown now and some of the best memories they have are of the endless hours we spent playing together, and we did lots of it. I often had to swallow my guilt for not cooking a gourmet meal, for neglecting the laundry, or other household chores. My inclination is always to put work and chores first. But, somehow it did all get done despite me feeling like a slacker for going out to play.

As a Mom who is now looking back, I can tell you that you’ll never regret time spent playing with your children. You will NEVER say, “I should have done the chores instead”! So, for those type “A” personalities (of which I am one), remember that right now your work is play and don’t feel guilty. Go outside and have a good time!

Hopefully, they learned a few things from us teachers, such as what “B” says, how to count to 10 in Spanish, how to do a backward roll and a few other things. I know I have learned a ton working with them. Although they are young, children are very wise and have a lot to teach adults if adults are willing to listen.

Here are a few things I learned from my preschoolers this year:

• Sticking out your tongue helps you concentrate on everything from walking across the high balance beam to writing your name.
• It is impossible to keep play dough separated by color. It will ALWAYS turn into a giant brown ball. (This was a tough one for me to learn.)
• Appreciate the little things in life: a bug on the sidewalk, a beautiful dandelion bouquet, an airplane flying overhead.
• Going outside in the winter means watching children struggling into their snow pants and jacket, helping them push on their boots, getting their hat on and waiting for them to figure out their mittens. Only after all of these steps are complete will they tell you they now need to go to the bathroom.
• It is okay to get messy, stray from the lesson plan and be silly.
• Patience: Things take time when you are working with kids. It is worth it to slow down and take the time to teach them instead of doing things for them.
• Forgiveness: I have seen kids SO mad at their friend and, the next minute, they are building blocks together. Kids express their feelings and then get over it.
• Perseverance: Our mantras are “Just try your best” and “Don’t give up.” It is important to just keep trying.
• Kids say the funniest, most random things and if you really take the time to have a conversation with them, it probably will be the highlight of your day. Appreciate their creativity and imagination. I also have learned it is entertaining to listen to conversations between the kids themselves.
• I have learned how much a compliment or an “I love you, Miss Jill” means and how a huge hug from a student can turn even the worst day around. Children are so expressive and kind, and it always brings a smile to my face.
• Kids are honest and will always tell you the truth, regardless if you want to hear it.

It is SO much fun to get to work with kids every day and I hope that you all have amazing children in your lives to learn from.

Miss Jill

Preschool/Kindergarten Director

We think they are silly. We think they’re polite

We think they are smart, wild, strong and some a bit devious.

Reserved, clever, kind, pretty and most are mischievous.

We boast about your little girl’s beautiful back handspring.

We laugh about your little boy’s Shakira-like dancing.

We are proud of your daughter when she remembers how to do a pike.

We celebrated with your son when he first learned to ride a two-wheeler bike.

In the break room, we tell stories about the great things our students said or did.

And long after leaving work, we can’t help but talk about “our kids.”

We hope and pray the best future for your child.

And we thank you for sharing their lives with us,

whether it’s for many years or only a little while.

Miss. Stacey

While we endure to be a trusted resource for your family, we also wish to provide a fun and challenging work environment for our employees to grow their individual talents.  Gymco's teachers and staff have high performance expectations, but within a supportive environment for professional and personal growth.  As we nurture our individual gifts, we have the privilege of becoming close friends, co-workers, and encouraging each other through our lives. 

Our Marketing Manager, Paige, has provided 6 years of amazing service to Gymco's employees and customers.  With many laughs and memories, we will miss her so much ~ but we also realize that Paige will treasure her time with daughters, Leah and Taryn more than ever. 

After a wide search high and low to “replace” Miss Paige – we found someone who is going to be fabulous!  It is with great joy that we welcome Bethany Page as our new Marketing Coordinator.  Bethany comes with much experience in the sports industry and a love for children.  You may even see her 9 month-old little Gibson floating around Gymco too!

Here's to cherishing our culture, memories, and friendships ~

Dana

For better or worse, the everyday habits of parents make a huge impact on their children.  New evidence proves that parent's lifestyles play a large role in childhood obesity. “According to a childhood obesity researcher at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, children tend to adopt the behaviors of their parents, whether they are sedentary or physically active”, reports USA Today.

The study went on to say that parents who watch a significant amount of television are likely to have kids that act the same.  The daily habits of parents will certainly become the daily habits of their children.  So, the key to raising active and healthy children is to make a change in your own lifestyle first.  Physical activity not only teaches good health habits, but it promotes quality family time too.  Active families interact, communicate, bond, and build memories together.  Kids feel valued because parents are focused on them instead of the television.  This contributes to good social skills and emotional health in addition to physical health.  

Try incorporating more movement into your everyday habits.  Begin setting aside time every night for physical activity.  The choices are endless, depending on your interests.  Take a walk as a family, ride bikes, play Wii, throw and catch on the lawn, play badminton,  hide and seek, hopscotch, basketball, jump rope, ice skating, sledding, or other activities you enjoy.  Whatever the season, stay active indoors or out.  You don't need expensive health club memberships or equipment, just a little imagination and creativity.

Active time is great not only for the kids; the adults will burn more calories too.  Parents might even learn some new sports skills!  And, equally important, is the time you will spend together laughing, learning, talking, and bonding as a family.

Small changes add up, so keep the big picture in mind and strive for long term results.  Think about the lifestyle you want your kids to adopt, and create it now!

Doreen

My wife and I have a 5 month old and a 2 year old. We know what it means to work at it. People talk about the “terrible twos”, terrible for whom? I'm sure my 2 year old, Austin, is just as frustrated as we are. This is such a wonderful time in life watching him explore and grow. Wait, we aren't just watching him, we are right their alongside him helping and putting in the time so he can learn. The “terrible twos” have turned into the “terrific twos” in our house. Don't get me wrong, Austin has temper tantrums and gets frustrated. The difference is that we understand that he is learning and we are going to help teach him with patience and love. It is hard work, but definitely worth it.

Watching children learn and grow can be such a treat for many people, but taking the time to teach children and help them is so much more rewarding. Being part of the process and knowing that this will be better for the children in the long run is why putting in the time and hard work is worth it any day of the week. Being a parent is a great responsibility and a wonderful gift. Enjoy your parenthood.

-Chad

Does this sound familiar? Maybe your day is a little different, but you get the idea! As moms and dads our days are spent giving ourselves to our children, our spouses, our families and friends, work, and many others. We love it and enjoy life, but I think it is important to carve out some time for you! It is so easy to get lost in daily activities and responsibilities that we forget what we love and what is important to us. Like, before we had kids.

In July I found out baby #2 was on the way. The first thing I did was sign up for a pre-natal yoga class and it is the best thing I have done during this pregnancy. I wanted to set aside some time to focus on this pregnancy and new baby with no distractions. I have to say the first session was great, but when it came time to sign up for the second session it was hard to commit again. I had a fight with myself because I was feeling guilty taking the time for myself, the money, and my husband had to rush home from work so I could go. I ended up committing to a second session and now am in my third. It has been fabulous to have an encouraging husband because if it was just me I may have set aside this activity after the first session. Now I look forward to Monday nights because I take time for myself. I focus on myself, my baby, and I RELAX! And I am a better mom and spouse for taking that time.

So now I come to you! You are a fabulous parent and have many responsibilities, but what do you do for yourself? For you it may be getting together with friends, having a date night, getting a manicure, skiing, joining a book club, etc. The important thing is that you find time for you doing an activity that re-energizes you! It is important as a parent that you have time to recharge and give the best of yourself to your family! Good Luck!

Paige

It is so important to teach our children good eating habits from the time that they are young so that they can build on them as they get older. Encourage your kids to try new things, get them involved in making the food, make healthy food fun. I get snacks ready for our Discovery Preschool program every day so I know it can be more difficult and time consuming to come up with healthy snacks that kids will eat. It would be much easier to open a bag of chips or cookies every day but not only is this unhealthy for the kids today; it is setting the stage for a lifetime of poor eating habits. Many preschoolers and young children have very strong opinions about what they like and do not like and what they will simply not eat. It is okay for kids to not like a food but it is not okay for them to decide this before they try the food. It is my job, and parent's jobs, to get them to try new things, to make fruits and vegetables appealing and fun. Here are a few snack suggestions to make this easier and that have helped me in planning the menu for preschool:

- Be creative, let your kids play with their food. Try eating applesauce through a straw.  Make ants on a log: celery with peanut butter or cream cheese and raisins. Let the kids help: make your own trail mix: kids count out different ingredients to add to the mix.  Try Banana Bugs: kids can create creatures using a whole banana and pretzel sticks. If you need ideas there are a bunch of great websites that have a lot of quick and easy options. . One of my favorites is www.pbs.org.

- You could have your child pick what vegetable they would like to try that day, empower them to make a good choice. If a child refuses to eat a certain food, have another choice available. They can choose but they must eat one or the other.

- Have healthy snack options readily available for times when you are in a hurry: carrot sticks, apple slices, cheese slices with whole wheat crackers, raisins. This will allow you to throw these choices in on the way out the door rather than chips or candy.

-  Be a good example, it will be difficult for your kids to agree to eat carrot sticks if you are eating a bag of popcorn. Be adventurous yourself: don't assume that because you don't like a certain food, that your kids won't either.

- Keep trying: studies have shown that kids need repeated exposure to foods. If your child refuses to eat carrots try serving them in different ways: cooked, raw, with a little ranch.

It can be more time consuming and require more thought and creativity but it is vital to teach children about healthy choices from a young age and it will be easier for them to carry these throughout their life into adulthood.  Make the effort, your kids will appreciate it down the road.

Happy (healthy) Eating!
Jill

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/40839182#40839182

The thought of teaching sport skills to babies seems absurd to many adults.  Developing toddler athletes?   People think it can't or shouldn't be done.  Really?  Let's take a look at the scientific facts as quoted from Tom Farrey's book, “Game On”…

Human beings learn at an astonishing rate when very young, perhaps faster than at any other time in their lives.  Beginning in the mid-1980s, parents started becoming aware of the developmental importance of the first five years of a child's life.  The human body takes about two decades to reach its ultimate size, but 95 percent of the brain and central nervous system gets formed by age 7, and most of that growth is in the first four years.  During that time, cells are being created and connected in ways that support the basic components of neuromuscular coordination.  By 18 months, the cell content of the cerebellum – part of the brain that affect movement – has already reached adult levels.  It's not mature from a cognitive standpoint, but the physical infrastructure is all in place. 

Motor skill development is a plastic process affected by habitual physical activity and the practice of specific movement.  At age 2, a toddler might not be able to do much more than strike a ball with a plastic club.  But each time they whack it, signals are sent to their neural systems – the brain, nerves, and eyes – and with repetition, the signals suggest that the capacity of performing this activity needs to be developed.  The sooner those signals are sent to the neural system of a child, the better chance he or she will have of later nailing a technique.  A similar neurological process controls the learning of  language, which is why parents are encouraged to expose kids to foreign tongues as early as age 1. 

Teaching Physical Literacy (sport skills) to babies and toddlers is consistent with the science of motor learning, which suggests that complex skills are mastered by first gaining proficiency on simpler maneuvers.  Technique itself is merely a function of perfecting sensory-motor habits, learned activities that are practiced to the point of automation.  The motor centers are taught how to act in a relaxed and economical way, so that ultimately a movement flows from the unconscious.  The action just occurs on its own, once the go-ahead to do it is given.  All that repetition also helps the muscles and joints to recognize minute deviations in proper form.  “If kids are taught developmentally and start with what's simple and build from there, they can learn skills early,” says Crystal Branta, a Michigan State professor of motor development whose research was cited by the AAP in its recommendation. 

The nay-sayers are worried that early training is harmful to kids.  But, the problem with teaching sport skills to very young children is not what is does to them, but what it can do to the adults around them.  Early success can be  intoxicating – and disorienting, knowing that potential greatness is in your care.  If he's this good now, parents may think, imagine how good he could be when he gets older.  The needs of a child can become lost to the perceived needs of his athletic career.  “Childhood should be a smorgasbord, instead of being pushed into a sport at an early age,” says Robert Malina, the youth sports researcher and expert on growth and maturation.  “Otherwise, you're violating a kid's rights.”  Remember that every good thing can be used in a harmful way, but let's be sure to stop the harm and not the good! 

Motor-skills expert Crystal Branta says that for optimum physical developmental, the priority should be on learning general athletic movements – running, jumping, hopping, skipping, and so forth – that can serve as a foundation for entry into multiple sports once children's bodies mature.  The best athletes are those who played a variety of sports through teenage years, rather than specialize early in one sport.  This is because of the transferable value of basic coordination, balance, and other foundational skills.  It should be our goal to develop every child into an athlete, but that doesn't mean that every child should participate in competitive sports.  There are many highly skilled athletes who choose never to compete and instead enjoy a wide variety of recreational activies.   The goal is to educate children well, and then allow them to choose how they use their skill and knowledge.

Learning sport skills starting in infancy can and should be done.  And, little ones can be taught in a safe, and creative way that is fun for both parents and babies.  Gymtrix DVDs  teach parents and caregivers how to do this.  When babies and toddlers do learn Physical Literacy skills, they become more confident and active.  Isn't that what we want for our kids, and isn't that what every doctor prescribes for health?  The good news is that every child can learn Physical Literacy skills and if we start now, we will change the future of our nation!

Doreen