Food and Health Communications

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Back to School Tip #2: Play, Play, Play

The beginning of August means that school* is just around the corner. Have you already seen our first back to school tip about healthful snacks? Now it's time for the next installment, and this one is all about activity.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence is important for promoting lifelong health and well-being and preventing various health conditions." Sometimes kids can get to their recommended 60 minutes (or more) of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day at school, but often they can't.That's why it's so important to play, play, play after school. For older kids and teens, this could be as simple as enrolling in after-school sports programs. Or going for a jog as a family after everyone gets home. For younger kids and preschoolers, this could mean visiting a playground or two on your way home from school. Playgrounds offer kids a safe way to burn off extra energy and unwind after a long day at school.How will you play with the kids in your life this fall?*We know this year is especially fraught, especially with COVID-19. Since there is a lot of messaging about that already and the measures taken may be different depending on where you live, we're going to focus on healthy food and exercise when we talk about going back to school.