YMCA Gets Kids Moving in Schools

The significant increase in youth obesity and the resulting health crisis that many of our young people face requires intervention and action. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that in 2008, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. This statistic is alarming but what is most sobering is the impact that obesity has on the quality of life of these individuals and the short and long term cost to society.

is committed to addressing the issue of youth obesity in our community. In 2006 the YMCA Kids’ Korner after school programs introduced the CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) curriculum in our eleven after school programs. The CATCH program is designed to promote physical activity and healthy food choices in school-age children through daily physical activity sessions and nutrition lessons. By teaching children that it is fun to be physically active and eat healthy every day, the CATCH Program has proved that establishing healthy habits in childhood can promote behavior change that carry into adulthood.

CATCH physical activities are non-elimination games that are designed to keep all of the participants constantly moving during the 30-45 minutes of the activity.  In order to see the impact that our CATCH program is having in our after school programs children are pre-tested with a mile run or PACER test. At the end of the year we will post-test the children to see how their physical fitness levels have improved.Survey results from our parents indicate that 75 percent of children have shown an improvement in their fitness level as a result of this program. Feedback from staff, families and children proves that the program is encouraging active lifestyles and making a real difference in the activity level of children.

In September 2011, the Middlesex YMCA was awarded a grant from the Aetna Foundation to expand our CATCH program. This school year we have collaborated with Bielefield, Farm Hill, Macdonough, Snow, and Wesley Schools to incorporate CATCH during the school day. Five YMCA Kids’ Korner staff members run CATCH games three times a week with the children during their recess break. Close to 500 children are participating in CATCH activities at these schools and the number of participants is increasing weekly. We are excited that this program is so well-received by the children and staff in these schools.

Children need adults in their lives who can role model good physical activity habits  and there are many ways that families can be active together. The American Heart Association recommends that families limit television, movies, videos and computer games to less than two hours a day and that families plan outings that involve activities such as bike riding, hiking, walking or swimming. It is never too late to incorporate a physical fitness routine into your life and the lives of your children!

The Y is also a great place for families who want to be more active together. For more information about how the Middlesex YMCA is helping families become stronger together please visit our website or stop in for a visit.