Aug 6, 2017
The Tribune – Staff Writer
For many, the martial arts are defined by maneuvers that emanate from combat and the need for survival. But for all the required physicality, the martial arts is just as much about the mind. Nathanial Blaine Smith, assistant manager and one of three instructors at Mountain States International Black Belt Academy in Greeley, said he is certain there is a link between improved grades and martial arts. In fact, his approach is to reinforce the connection to school during his own classes. Mountain States has an academic achievement program in which students identify school-based goals with the approval of their parents and teachers. Those who achieve their goal earn a badge for their uniforms. Subsequent goals bring stars attached to the uniform.(more)
Aug 6, 2017
The Chicago Daily Herald – Laura Milani Alessio
Freshly sharpened pencils, glue sticks and other supplies top the back-to-school checklist for many families. Making sure children have everything they need to stay healthy and safe, however, also is essential to a successful year of learning. (more)
Aug 5, 2017
Sunderland Echo – Graham Low
Every year it seems harder and harder to get kids off the sofa, or to put down the iPad for a minute and go out for some fresh air and exercise. This is hardly surprising when you consider the average child or teen spends seven hours a day either watching TV or using computers, phones, and other electronic devices for entertainment. A recent study by UK Active stated that the summer holidays are bad for children’s health, with youths being “plonked in front of screens” and losing most of the fitness they gain at school. (more)
Aug 5, 2017
The Chicago Tribune – Staff Writer
Some solutions include eating with the teacher or eating with the nurse or lunch monitor — even eating with a friend. Voice religious or family food restrictions, but accept that it is not the school’s responsibility to enforce these concerns. If the child is in a more serious condition, go straight to the nurse or administration with documentation from a pediatrician or therapist. Teachers are often the identifiers of eating concerns — but there is still a strong need for parent-teacher communication on the subject. (more)
Aug 4, 2017
The Cronkite News – Susan Horowitz
When Christina Barth was a dietitian for an elite youth soccer team, she encountered many different eating patterns among, what she described as, the “mini-professional athletes”. “I saw athletes that ate terribly, but they still performed pretty well. But I would always tell them, “Just imagine if you were eating really well how much better you’d be able to perform’,” said the registered dietitian who specializes in child nutrition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five school-aged children are obese, a number that has tripled since the 1970s. Children who compete in youth sports are more likely to be at a healthy weight, according to a 2012 study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics. (more)
