APRIL 12, 2022

WHO IS BILLIE JEAN KING?

You’ve most likely heard the name Billie Jean King before, but maybe you’re still not very familiar with her life and accomplishments. So, who is Billie Jean King?

Billie Jean King is an American tennis player and social activist. She was born in Long Beach, California in 1943, and started playing tennis at the age of 11. By 1959, she had already turned professional, even as she attended college.

In 1961, she won the women’s doubles title at Wimbledon with Karen Hantze Susman—becoming the youngest pair to win that title.

In 1966, Billie Jean King won her first major singles championship at Wimbledon, and ranked #1 player in the world in women’s tennis for the first—but not the last—time during that same year.

In 1973, King played against Bobby Riggs in one of the most infamous tennis matches of all time, which became known as the...

APRIL 12, 2022

WHAT DO SCHOOLS HAVE TO DO TO IMPROVE KIDS FITNESS LEVELS?

Physical fitness for kids is essential to their overall health and well-being. Engaging in the recommended amount of physical activity each day benefits children by helping them develop strong bones and muscles, improving their mental health, boosting their immune systems, improving performance in school, and much more!

However, health and fitness for kids isn’t always a priority at home, leaving many students who don’t get the required amount of physical activity each day. But, kids can also be active at school. So, what do schools need to do to improve kids’ fitness levels?

How Schools Can Improve Kids’ Fitness Levels

• Physical Education Curriculum - First and foremost, schools can improve the fitness levels of kids by offering physical education classes to students. That may sound strange, but over the last few years, thousands of schools around the...

MARCH 9, 2022

WAYS TO IMPROVE CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health is a crucial aspect of your child’s overall health, and yet can easily fall by the wayside. The CDC reports that depression and anxiety have increased over time in children, and that depression is an important concern in adolescents. Keep tabs on your child’s mental health and promote greater mental wellness by following these seven mental health tips for kids.

7 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Mental Health

1. Encourage physical activity.

Physical activity is a miracle drug for kids, providing a wealth of benefits from reducing depression to preventing health issues. Endorphins—chemicals released in the brain after exercise—can “help relieve pain, reduce emotional stress, and offer a sense of well-being.”

Look out for the documentary “Inactivity Pandemic” in late March, which highlights the importance of physical activity...

MARCH 9, 2022

HOW TO PROTECT OUR KIDS FROM COVID-19 AND OTHER DISEASES

As the coronavirus pandemic lingers on, it’s essential to understand how best to protect your children. Follow these recommendations to keep your kids COVID-safe.

Get vaccinated.

Getting vaccinated and vaccinating your children over 5 years old is the most effective way to guard against COVID-19. Vaccinations reduce the risk of getting coronavirus and lessen the severity of symptoms if you do contract the virus.

Practice social distancing.

Keep a safe distance from others when out in public. A distance of six feet lowers your risk of contracting coronavirus from infected people.

Wash hands well and often.

Make sure you and your child are washing your hands well and at frequent intervals. Be sure to consider common touchpoints, too. Regularly clean the most-touched surfaces in your...

FEBRUARY 8, 2022

HOW TO PREVENT DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN

Depression—also known as major depressive disorder—is a serious medical illness. Depression affects the way you feel, how you act, and the way you think. It can occur in adults, adolescents, and even children. In the United States, around 2 million children between the ages of 3 and 17 have diagnosed depression. This article will cover some of the ways you can both prevent child depression and help children dealing with depression.

How to Help a Child with Depression

Unfortunately, preventing depression in children isn’t always possible. However, some of the ways that help to prevent depression are the same things you can do to help a depressed child. Here are some of the methods for helping a child with depression:

• Know the Symptoms of Depression - First, it’s crucial ...

FEBRUARY 8, 2022

WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT TO JOIN THE MILITARY?

Physical fitness is essential for individuals looking to join the United States military. The different branches of the military—the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, National Guard, and Space Force—all have their own physical exams you will need to complete once you are admitted. 

However, during the initial application process, the U.S. military requirements for fitness involve the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA). The CFA helps determine whether you have the potential to successfully complete the physical programs at the United States Military Academy, United States Air Force Academy, and United States Naval Academy. 

The CFA requirements are the same no matter which branch you are interested in joining. In this article, we’ll explain the military fitness requirements that the Candidate Fitness Assessment entails. 

U.S. Military Physical Requirements for the Candidate ....

JANUARY 7, 2022

INTERESTING LIFE LESSONS KIDS LEARN PLAYING SPORTS

Parents often encourage children to get involved in a sport to keep them active and for the social interaction that it provides. They might not realize it, but playing sports also provides many important life lessons that can be useful to their children, even when they are grown up and on their own.

Sports Teaches Social Skills

A team sport puts children into the midst of a group where they can hone their social skills by observing how others use theirs. This offers a wealth of experience to help them learn the best ways to interact with others.

Sports Fosters Cooperation

On a team, everyone has a part to play to achieve success. You must learn to follow the plan and perform what’s expected of you. You learn to help others, and others help you. When your team is depending on you, you can’t “not feel like” participating. This forms the basis of good relation

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DECEMBER 18, 2021

12 REASONS WHY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS 'THE MIRACLE DRUG'

There are many different benefits to exercising—including physical benefits, mental benefits, emotional benefits, and more. While physical activity is important for everyone, it’s especially vital for children to get active because it helps to teach them healthy habits at a young age. This then makes it more likely that they will remain active and healthy throughout their whole life. In this article, we’ll highlight the 12 main reasons why physical activity is a Miracle Drug for children.

Here Are 12 Benefits of Exercise That Make It a Miracle Drug

1. Reduces Childhood Obesity - Regular physical exercise helps reduce the risk of childhood obesity, which is a major issue in the United States with 1 in 5 kids being obese.

2. Improves Academic Performance - Another benefit of physical activity is that it helps to improve students’ academic performance,  cognitive skills and abilities, ...

DECEMBER 18, 2021

REASONS YOU SHOULD DONATE TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH CHARITIES

“Year-end giving” is a term that refers to donations and charitable contributions that are made toward the end of the year—usually in the month of December. Year-end giving is incredibly important for charities and nonprofit organizations because it accounts for a large part of their annual funds, allowing them to continue their crucial work. In fact, giving that occurs at the end of the year makes up over 30% of all yearly donations. Furthermore, 12% of all donations in a year come during the final three days of December.

Some of the charities that rely most on donations to continue changing the world are children’s health charities. In this article, we’ll focus on some of the top reasons why you should make a year-end donation to these essential organizations.

Reasons Why You Should Donate to Children’s Health Charities at the End of the Year

Children's health charities provide many important benefits...

DECEMBER 6, 2021

5 Ways to Motivate Your Kids to Get Off Their Video Games and Head Outside

Before the pandemic, kids spent an average of 4 hours a day looking at screens — at least 3 hours a day playing video games. During the pandemic, this average only increased. In fact, out of the 227 million Americans who played more video games in the past year, USA Today reports that 76% were children.
Unfortunately, too much screen time can impact your child's sleep cycle and decrease their attention span. It can also increase their risk of developing depression, anxiety, or even video game addiction. According to a research-backed guide published on SymptomFind, this condition is characterized by a lack of control over gaming, to the extent that they take priority over essential activities like eating. It can cause aggressive behavior, reduced academic performance, and an inactive lifestyle that can lead to obesity and health issues....


 

OCTOBER 11, 2021

HOW TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

While most people are probably aware that childhood obesity is an issue, many people don't realize just how big of a problem it's become. According to statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 19.3% of children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese. That's about 14.4 million kids total, or 1 in 5 individuals. 

Part of the reason this data is so sobering is that the consequences of obesity aren't just limited to childhood. In addition to the danger that obesity will follow a child into adulthood, experts warn that childhood obesity can cause chronic medical issues such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, reproductive problems, and even some cancers—all of which have the potential to haunt children in the long term. 

For parents, guardians, or children who are grappling with this near you!

JANUARY 25th, 2023

Grades from the 2022 U.S. Report Card on Physical Activity for Children & Youth Aren't Pretty

by LEAGUE OF FANS on DECEMBER 21, 2022

By Ken Reed

From a physical activity perspective our young people are in bad shape. Literally.

According to “The 2022 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth,” our children and youth earned a D- in “Overall Physical Activity” and a D in “Sedentary Behaviors.”

The U.S. Report Card Research Advisory Committee which developed this report is a sub-committee of the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The PAA was created as a result of a merger between the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance, the National Physical Activity Society, and the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity. The PAA’s mission is to lead efforts to create, support, and advocate policy and system changes that enable all Americans to enjoy physically active lives.
The 2022 children and youth report card is another sign that our country’s children are still in the midst of a long-running physical inactivity epidemic.

There have been many reasons cited for this inactivity: The proliferation of video games and social media, cutbacks in physical education and recess time, smaller or no backyards in newer housing developments, parents driving their kids to school instead of having them walk or ride a bike, a drop in organized sports participation, etc. The list of causes is a long one, with Covid being one of the most prominent the last couple years.

Whatever the reason, it’s very important that, as a society, we find ways to get our kids moving more.

The benefits of physical activity for our young people are numerous. The Aspen Institute reported in October 2021 that active kids are one-tenth as likely to be obese, have up to 40% higher academic test scores, are less likely to smoke or use illegal drugs, are more likely to go to college, have less depression, go on to earn 7-8% more annually, have less illness during their lifetime and have one-third the rate of disability.

— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans