Let’s Go

1. Let’s Go Doug Tynan

2. NHPS VisionOptimal health and development for all children. NHPS Mission Nemours Health & Prevention Services, an operating division of Nemours, is dedicated to working with others to help children lead healthier lives.

3. Development • Each age and stage of a child's development has specific goals and tasks.  • Early adolescents, 12 – 14 years, are trying to establish himself as an independent person • For adolescents, it is to become their own person with their own group of friends.  Adolescents need many skills in order to successfully achieve their goal of increased independence.  • Behavior is driven by thought they can never grow into adulthood without assuming more control over their life.

4. Adolescence • Time of independence • Habits develop early and carry over into adulthood • Ages 12 – 17 • Greater mobility and independence developed • Obstacle – parental fear – sex offenders, kidnapping • Active Transportation - Bike, walk, public transportation (DART)

5. Milestones • Learn to ride bike 3 – 6 years old • Cross the street alone at 10 years • Stay home alone at 12 years • (National SAFEKIDS Campaign http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm • Delaware Division of Family Services • Get job at 14 years • Trapped b/c don’t have means to get around • Rely on parents to get you there

6. Coordination • Best developed between the ages of 7 – 14, with the most crucial period being between 10 – 13 years of age.  Children and Sports Training: How Your Future Champions Should Exercise to be Healthy, Fit, and Happy by Józef Drabik (Mar 1997)

7. Active Transportation • How to use public transportation, rules of riding a bike, safety in crossing the street • Best place to teach these skills? • School, • Camp, • After-school programs, • Community centers

8. Lets go… • School • Work • Park • Practice • Mall • Movies…

9. Benefits of Physical Activity • Helps maintain a healthy weight and prevents chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes • Benefits during childhood and adolescence: • promotion of healthy growth and development • maintenance of energy balance • psychological well-being • opportunities for social interaction • Children who grow up in physically active families are more likely to continue being physically active into adulthood compared to their peers raised in families with more sedentary lifestyles

10. Decline in Children Walking and Biking to School • In 1969, approximately half of all children walked or biked to school, with 87% of those living within 1 mile of school walking or biking • Today: • Fewer than 15% of children walk or bike to school • One-quarter of trips to school are made on a school bus • More than half of all children commute to school by car • A survey administered by the CDC sheds light on the causes of this decline • Following distance to school, the second most commonly reported barrier to walking/biking to school was traffic-related danger Sources: FHWA, CDC, 2005

11. Statistics on Active Transportation • According to the 2009 National Household Travel Survey: • 37% of Americans reported no walk trips in the previous week • 25% of children reported taking no walks or bike rides outside for any reason in the previous week • Average amount of time spent in active travel each day was just 10 mins. per capita (short of recommendation of 30 mins. of physical activity per day for good health) Sources: National Household Transportation Survey, 2009

12. The Challenges We Currently Face • Our current environment supports sedentary lifestyles • It is difficult, if not impossible, to walk or bike to most destinations of importance • Few places actually encourage people to be active