Did you know that heart health starts early? In Tennessee, keeping our children's hearts healthy is an important way to help them grow strong and live long, happy lives. Heart health isn’t just for adults, kids can take simple steps to protect their hearts every day! The Tennessee American Heart Association is at the forefront and making a huge difference by offering multiple programs including the Kids Heart Challenge and the American Heart Challenge that impact children’s heart health of all ages.
The Kids Heart Challenge is a fun way for elementary students to improve their health by jumping rope, dancing, or playing basketball. Kids get their hearts pumping while learning lifesaving skills like hands on CPR and how to recognize a stroke. Plus, the program encourages kindness and teamwork, which helps kids feel good inside and out!
For middle and high school students, the American Heart Challenge offers a way to give back while learning about important health topics like mental well-being, nutrition, and preventing heart disease. Students also raise money to fund research and resources that help save lives.
Why does this matter? The statistics are clear:
- According to the CDC, less than one-quarter (24%) of children 6 to 17 years of age participate in the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
- One-third of children and adolescents in the United States are classified as either overweight or obese.
- More than half of American children and adolescents have poor-quality diets.
- In 2021, e-cigarettes were the most used tobacco products in youth with 11.3% of high school students and 2.8% of middle school students reporting use in the last 30 days.
The good news is that small changes can make a big difference! Families can work together to:
- Move More: Play outside, go on walks. Use Healthy Parks Healthy Person to earn points and free rewards!
- Add color: Eat more fruits and vegetables! Grow your own garden or eat local from Tennessee farmers markets.
- Choose water: Water consumption improves your energy and mood and helps to save on the grocery bill! Try these tips for drinking more water as a family.
- Sleep more: Aim for at least 8-10 hours of sleep a night. Try these sleep tips for families.
- Be Kind: Kindness can improve your well-being and the well-being of others at the same time. Try these kindness activities for kids and families.
By making healthy choices, kids can strengthen their hearts, boost their self-esteem, and prevent problems like anxiety and depression. Let's work together to help Tennessee’s kids build healthy habits that last a lifetime. Learn more about the Kids Heart Challenge and the American Heart Challenge at American Heart Association’s School Programs.