Toolkit: Healthy kids learn better

Children laughing and playing a game outside Ask any young school-aged child what their favorite part of the school day is, and more often than not, you will hear these answers – recess, lunch, and gym class.

Kids think these active parts of the school day are just plain fun, but without knowing it, they are pointing out an important ingredient in the recipe for their success in school.

Active play prepares children’s bodies and their brains for learning.

Encouraging physical activity throughout children’s days is a key strategy in the fight against obesity. Participating in active living now will help encourage a healthy activity habit throughout their lives. As part of the Healthy, Active Multnomah County effort, we are calling attention to the issue and encouraging parents as well as school and community leaders to help increase the opportunity for kids to be active before, during and after school.

The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that young people aged 6-17 years participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Yet in 2009, only 18% of high school students had participated in that much activity daily. A number of factors conspire to keep kids from moving including our busy, plugged-in lifestyles, safety concerns, and shrinking school budgets.

Our Healthy Kids Learn Better public awareness campaign raises awareness about the need for active play and builds on work already being done in schools and in communities. It is one component of the Health Department’s comprehensive strategy to reverse the obesity epidemic.

Fact Sheet

Healthy Kids Learn Better fact sheet -- PDF

Posters (8.5x11)

Safe Places to Play 1 - PDF

Safe Places to Play 2 - PDF

Power Button 1 - PDF

Power Button 2 - PDF

Power Button 3 - PDF

Pop Quizzes 1 - PDF

Pop Quizzes 2 - PDF

Teen Posters (8.5x11)

Swimming - PDF