Day of Play Hopes to Shape Up AZ

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 – September 29, 2011Posted in: Uncategorized

Read this article on San Tan Valley Today

Day of play hopes to shape up AZ
By Zach Richter Today Publications

On Oct. 22, 2011, the Shape Up US program is coming back to Arizona in a big way. The 2011 Shape Up Arizona Day of Play event will give families an opportunity to exercise while having fun together and building healthy habits for the future.

Shape Up US a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation dedicated to preventing obesity. Shape Up US contributes to building a healthy future for America’s children by improving the health, fitness and overall well-being of youth and their families.

The corporation offers free state-by-state healthy lifestyle events designed to create awareness about heart disease prevention and a generally healthy lifestyle.

According to the event website, the 2011 Day of Play event will include Disney inflatables and appearances by SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer and local team mascots for the kids; and athletic challenges, a rock-climbing wall, health demonstrations and entertainment for adults as well.

A major aspect of the event, the 5K/10K run or walk will start at 8:00 a.m., with registration beginning at 7:00 a.m., Children and their parents are encouraged to participate in the run or walk, and to limber up beforehand with Dora and SpongeBob.

The 2010 Day of Play event saw over 5,000 attendees and 75 vendors, what’s more, according to their website, they gave away over $10,000 worth of raffle prizes.

Shape Up US Live Events, like the Day of Play, highlight three different comprehensive wellness education programs designed to help make the country a healthier place.

The first program, the Hip Hop Healthy Heart Program for Children, is a unique K-6 educational program created by Shape Up US to stem the tide of childhood obesity. Each event during the Day of Play will introduce the Hip Hop Healthy Heart Program for children through a day of fun for the entire family.

The program is comprised of eight modules that promote heart health and general fitness. These include information about heart health, positively expressing emotions, proper nutrition, exercise, dental health, the importance of teamwork, positive thinking and even basic financial advice.

These eight modules provide learning objectives, lesson plans and activities that are then integrated with core curriculum or other program content to help children learn and develop healthy habits at an early age. The goal of the program is to have learning flow from teacher to student, student to family members, and to the community through peer-to-peer interaction.

The Day of Play will also introduce children and families to a secondary school program where students are introduced to the importance of character, honesty, overcoming obstacles and more as they face the choices associated with growing up.

Finally, the Positive Psychology Training program helps adults incorporate positive psychology and implement it abroad.

The Shape Up US AZ Day of Play event will take place on Oct. 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Tumbleweed Park located at 2250 S. McQueen Rd. in Chandler. For more information, visit ShapeUpUs.org.

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