No kid is an island! Youth do not grow up in isolation. Adolescents and younger kids live and interact with adults in many different ways in our Kansas communities. 4-H clubs, Scout troops, after-school programs, faith groups and volunteer organizations, among others, provide critical structures, resources and opportunities that help our teens and pre-teens from Oakley to Overland Park grow and thrive.
Adult youth leaders like you have a responsibility to promote healthy eating and physical activity, no matter what kind of group you sponsor. Surprised? You may not have considered this aspect of your leadership duties—after all, what do healthy food choices have to do with your 4-H photography project? However, good nutrition and physical activity are central to achievement in anything. Kids with healthy bodies have more energy, can concentrate better and feel more empowered to stretch their wings and take on new challenges.
The next time you have snacks at a meeting, provide some crisp veggies, fruit slices and bottled water instead of chips, cookies and soda. You could be planting the seeds of better health for a lifetime. And let's face it, the fruit and veggies will be good for you, too!
Take a look at these other resources you can use to help the kids in your life feel healthier and achieve more.
- Quality Youth Programs and Activities
- Check out these scientifically proven programs to help young people develop good lifelong habits such as healthy eating and physical activity. You'll find tips for youth group activities that are fun and health oriented. And anybody who has ever sponsored a group of teens or pre-teens knows you're always looking for good activities to keep them busy!
- Adolescent Development
- Think back to your own crazy, early days when you suddenly realized you weren't a child anymore! Adult youth leaders who understand the changes pre-teens and teens are going through can offer programs to help kids develop healthy eating and physical activity habits. When you know what young people are experiencing, you can improve your odds of actually getting through to them!