Written by Meryl Dillman Pacific Sunday News
On almost every Friday afternoon during the school year at Machananao Elementary School, you can hear upbeat music and children's cheering coming out of the cafeteria.It's Zumba Friday.
For about an hour, students and teachers gather to have fun and dance, but more importantly to be active and get exercise. Administrators started the tradition last year after a school nurse, Kimberly Edusma, thought it would be a fun activity to do with colleagues and students.
So she started bringing in her Wii video game system. But it became so popular, the Parent Teacher Student Association used funds to purchase a Wii for the school. Now the system is hooked up on Friday afternoons and students and teachers follow along with the game system. "It's really just got the kids moving," Edusma said.
On a recent Friday afternoon, Edusma stood amongst more than 100 students and teachers and led the group, along with the Wii characters, through a Zumba lesson as well as a game called "Just Dance," in which students boogie along to songs such as "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor. During the hourlong session, many kids only stopped moving between songs. One of those students, Lucas Malay, who is in first grade, said he enjoyed Zumba Fridays.
"You get healthy and you get exercise," he said while taking a quick break.
Being active is important, according to Dr. Robert Leon Guerrero, a pediatrician at the FHP Clinic.
"If you're not in good shape, it's hard for you to think," he said, adding if you're hungry, not eating well or not exercising, you might not perform well.
Leon Guerrero said there's a lot of emphasis on "screens" now, including the telephone, computer and television, instead of exercising. Not exercising and being out of shape can lead to health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, he said.
Leon Guerrero suggests parents ensure their children spend time being physically active at least five to six days a week. He recommended seeing what types of programs are offered in the community, such as playing sports as a way to keep kids active. He also recommended parents be active with their children by doing activities, such as going on walks. But safety should also be a priority. "Exercise, but exercise in a safe environment," he said.
On almost every Friday afternoon during the school year at Machananao Elementary School, you can hear upbeat music and children's cheering coming out of the cafeteria.It's Zumba Friday.
For about an hour, students and teachers gather to have fun and dance, but more importantly to be active and get exercise. Administrators started the tradition last year after a school nurse, Kimberly Edusma, thought it would be a fun activity to do with colleagues and students.
So she started bringing in her Wii video game system. But it became so popular, the Parent Teacher Student Association used funds to purchase a Wii for the school. Now the system is hooked up on Friday afternoons and students and teachers follow along with the game system. "It's really just got the kids moving," Edusma said.
On a recent Friday afternoon, Edusma stood amongst more than 100 students and teachers and led the group, along with the Wii characters, through a Zumba lesson as well as a game called "Just Dance," in which students boogie along to songs such as "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor. During the hourlong session, many kids only stopped moving between songs. One of those students, Lucas Malay, who is in first grade, said he enjoyed Zumba Fridays.
"You get healthy and you get exercise," he said while taking a quick break.
Being active is important, according to Dr. Robert Leon Guerrero, a pediatrician at the FHP Clinic.
"If you're not in good shape, it's hard for you to think," he said, adding if you're hungry, not eating well or not exercising, you might not perform well.
Leon Guerrero said there's a lot of emphasis on "screens" now, including the telephone, computer and television, instead of exercising. Not exercising and being out of shape can lead to health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, he said.
Leon Guerrero suggests parents ensure their children spend time being physically active at least five to six days a week. He recommended seeing what types of programs are offered in the community, such as playing sports as a way to keep kids active. He also recommended parents be active with their children by doing activities, such as going on walks. But safety should also be a priority. "Exercise, but exercise in a safe environment," he said.