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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Having fun with FUN 5

Photo galleryPhoto gallery: It's about Fun 5
Video: Healthy fun and games for Hawaii's keiki

By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Students at Kalihi Elementary School try the Fun 5 program, which promotes physical activity and nutrition for elementary school students.

JEFF WIDENER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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HELP OUT

Want to help with Fun 5, or have a business that could help support the program? Contact Claudio Nigg at 956-2862 or cnigg@hawaii.edu.

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If encouraging your keiki to exercise and eat healthy foods hasn't been a high priority for you, maybe these numbers will change your mind.

In Hawai'i, about 26 percent of children and adolescents are obese — that's double the national rate.

Overweight children have a 70 percent chance of becoming adults who are overweight or obese, increasing their risk of developing heart disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes and depression.

Statistics like these spurred HMSA to partner with the state Department of Education and the University of Hawai'i to develop Fun 5, a physical activity and nutrition program for kids, implemented at A-plus afterschool programs statewide.

The goal: teach children healthy habits now to avoid long-term health problems linked with obesity.

The program teaches kids to eat five servings of fruits and veggies every day. It also encourages them to be active five days a week, for at least 30 minutes each day.

"We do that through noncompetitive, positive, character-building activities that encourage teamwork, self-improvement and obviously, fun," said Claudio Nigg, an associate professor at the UH department of Public Health Sciences. Nigg is principal investigator with Fun 5.

While the program is implemented at afterschool programs, the activities can also easily be done at home. Listed below are five Fun 5 games parents and children can play.

TWIST-N-TURN

For ages: 5-14

Equipment: 1 ball, music

  • Stand back-to-back with your partner.

  • Turn to one side, handing ball to partner. Partner turns in the opposite direction, handing the ball back.

  • Say "Switch!" as the ball is passed in each direction.

  • Challenges: How fast can you and your partner hand off the ball? How quickly can you exchange the ball 10 times?

    BEND-N-STRETCH

    For ages: 5-14

    Equipment: 1 ball, music

  • Stand back-to-back about 1 foot away from partner. Exchange ball with arms extended overhead, then bend at the waist and exchange ball again between your legs. (Be careful to not bump heads.)

  • Challenge: After warming up with Twist-n-Turn and Bend-n-Stretch, create a sequence, such as twist-turn-bend-stretch.

    ROCK AND ROW

    For ages: 5-8

    Equipment: blanket, music

  • Sit facing your partner with a blanket over your legs. Hold on to the blanket with both hands.

  • Stretch forward to touch your toes, then lean backward. Work together to "rock and row."

  • Variation: Rock and row back and forth to the beat of a musical selection.

    TARGET FRISBEE

    For ages: 5-14

    Equipment: 1 ball/Frisbee (or any flying disc) per child, 5-10 towels (targets), music

  • Scatter towel targets throughout yard.

  • On "Throw!", throw Frisbee to any target.

  • On "Go!", run to retrieve frisbee and run back.

  • Points: 5 if entire Frisbee lands on target, 3 if Frisbee is partially on target, 1 if Frisbee touches the target but doesn't land on it.

    THROW FOR DISTANCE

    For ages: 5-14

    Equipment: 1 ball/Frisbee (or any flying disc) per child, music

  • On "Throw!", throw Frisbee.

  • On "Go!", run for your Frisbee, counting how many paces it takes for you to reach your Frisbee. Pick it up and run back. Try to improve your distance with each throw.

    JOIN OUR DISCUSSION:

    Fun, effortless fitness for kids.

    Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.