Afterschool Alliance Promotes Three Key Resources

Free Promotional Game Exclusive to First 350 Respondents - Apply Before July 3
For a limited time, Sports Camp Federation is offering a free trial package of the new family game coming out this fall called Guess What I Am. It is a modern twist on the classic guessing game, targeted to children age five through 12. The game includes 30 different character picture frames with four different playing games. Each free trial package will include the Guess What I Am retail game for the program, a program/game guidelines letter, and 50 picture frame magnets for children to take home. There will also be five Rubik's cubes included for older children to use during program time. Programs with children age five to seven and eight to 12 should apply before July 3. To apply for the promotion, contact Katie Logan at klogan@scfsports.com or 847/418-2015.

Program to Combat Child Obesity
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, whose mission is to stop the increase of childhood obesity by 2010, recently introduced The Healthy Schools Program (HSP). The program's goal is to improve nutrition, physical activity, and staff wellness in America's schools. The program offers tools and resources to help schools improve access to healthier foods, increase opportunities for physical activity, and establish staff wellness programs. The HSP would like to see this initiative taken beyond regular school hours and into afterschool programs' meal plans. For more information on The Healthy Schools Program, call 1-888-KID-HLTH.

Literacy Program to Prevent Summer Learning Loss
Reader's Theater is offering a free resource to afterschool providers to help boost literacy skills through "edu-tainment" in the form of play-acting. The "Take Center Stage" playbooks provide an interactive environment for youth to read and learn. "Mini, the Super Watermelon," is available free for download and includes game instructions, playing cards, and playing tips. To access the materials, visit their website.

Text courtesy of the Afterschool Alliance.

E.N. White School in Holyoke Fights Obesity After School

With funding from the Holyoke Food and Fitness Council supplied by the Kellogg Foundation, elementary and middle school students at the E. N. White School are fighting obesity after school. This weekly program promotes physical activity through games such as flag football, basketball and soccer. In addition to moving around, students are learning to build friendships with other youth at their school as well as with caring adults. Over 150 youth are participating in this popular program which also provides a healthy snack and a lesson on nutrition.

This is yet another example of how Massachusetts schools and community-based providers are working to promote the health and well-being of its youth through afterschool programs.

Afterschool Team Sports and Overweight Children

The Archive of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine recently reported their results of the Stanford Sports to Prevent Obesity Randomized Trial (SPORT). As a result of their six-month study of low-income children who played soccer, they learned that their body mass significantly decreased in three and six month intervals and the level of their physical activity rose during this time period. Their conclusion? Playing soccer afterschool was an effective means to keep children healthy.

Review the study to learn more.