In an article posted by CNN, Want to get your kids into college? Let them play said "Through play, children learn to take turns, delay gratification, negotiate conflicts, solve problems, share goals, acquire flexibility, and live with disappointment. By allowing children to imagine walking in another person's shoes, imaginative play also seeds the development of empathy, a key ingredient for intellectual and social-emotional success."  It went onto say, "But academic achievement in college requires readiness skills that transcend mere book learning. It requires the ability to engage actively with people and ideas. In short, it requires a deep connection with the world."

However, it is a sad fact that schools across the nation have taken back recess and preschoolers do not get the exercise needed during their short school day or at home.  Here are some eye-opening statistics:

•  American children obtain more than 50% of their daily calories from fat and added sugars.   (Int. J. of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity)  
• The Federal Trade Commission Report shows: Children see up to 6,100 food advertisements each year. Only 5% are for healthy foods, mostly dairy and juices. Ads for fruits and vegetables are nonexistent.
• Obese children as young as 3 years old have elevated levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation that in adults is considered an early warning sign for possible future heart disease.  (Pediatrics, March 2010)
• The prevalence of obesity among preschool-aged children in the United States who regularly share evening meals with their families, get enough sleep during the week, and have limited weekday television-viewing time is 40% lower than those who are not exposed to any of these household routines.  (Pediatrics, Feb. 2010)
• We only spend 14% of public education dollars on children before they turn five. Ironically, it's this time in a child's development when 90% of brain growth occurs.  (American Association for the Advancement of Science, March 2010)

While 80% of elementary schools have eliminated recess and new schools are being built without playgrounds, because reason: "children need more time for 'academics' in order to pass tests"  (American Association for the Child's Right to Play, March 2010), Illinois remains one of two states that still allows PE and recess in schools, however, sixty-three percent of Chicago Public Schools don't have access to recess.  Recess before lunch helps makes kids healthier ready to learn is another campaign launched by Healthy Schools Campaign here in Chicago.  

So Lannette Wolford runs Kid-Fit Chicago, a fitness program that teaches children ages 2-5 the basics of healthy lifestyle habits, kids learn toassociate exercise with fun.  It is her mission to get preschool aged kids as young as two years old active at school and teaching them healthy lifestyle habits.  Kid-Fit Chicago is helping to launch National Preschool Fitness Day on January 28th and is offering free tool-kits for teachers and get their kids moving in the classrooms.  Local Preschool Teachers can contact Lannette for a free 30-minute demo in their classrooms.  

You can like Kid Fit Chicago on Facebook and see more of Lannette's work and see how she is helping Preschool aged kids fit and healthy!