The Importance of Living an Active Lifestyle
This post was sponsored by Boys & Girls Clubs of America as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Staying active has always been important to our family. When my middle child was diagnosed with special needs at the young age of four months, the doctors told us she would never walk and that if she did she would never run. We made it our mission to work on rolling over, then crawling, then we worked on walking for a year and a half, and finally, climbing and running! Living an active lifestyle helps keep her muscles formed and tendons stretched to prevent crippling from her Cerebral Palsy.
When Gabby was younger I worked outside the home. Doing physical therapy when I was home was imperative but finding a place to keep her active during her out-of-school time was just as important. I would only use babysitters or after school clubs that understood the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle for kids. People that cared enough about Gabby’s future mobility as I did.
Boys & Girls Clubs provide safe, fun and affordable (for single parents like I was) places for kids to go during school break to connect with caring, trained professionals and engage in enriching programs and activities.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Clubs believe every child deserves a great future, and help youth achieve this through three pillars – academic success, good character & citizenship, and healthy lifestyles.
Triple Play: Mind, Body & Soul
In partnership with the Anthem Foundation and The Coca-Cola Company, Boys & Girls Clubs of America offers the Triple Play program to kids and teens in its Clubs across the country. The Triple Play program focuses on three components of health and wellness – mind, body, and soul. It empowers kids and teens to excel by giving them the tools and education they need to lead a life of health and wellness, setting them on a path to a great future.
This mission is important for all ages and abilities of children. With so much technology use among kids nowadays, there is a need to encourage the health of the mind, body, and soul. Boys & Girls Clubs are dedicated to instilling positive health and wellness habits in America’s kids. Clubs encourage kids to eat right, keep fit and form positive relationships with themselves and others. Smart nutritional choices, active lifestyles, and self-confidence are integral to helping youth reach their full potential and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Kids learn by example and sometimes the adults in their lives outside the home play an influential role as large as their parents. Mom and dad may stress to their kids how they should ride a bike, go for a walk, and eat their broccoli. But when they learn the same lessons in their after-school program it starts to stick.
Now, 15-years later we are still taking family hiking trips, going for bike rides, and doing our best to stay active. Gabby knows when her muscles start to cramp up from sitting too long or not enough exercise. She still remembers her most influential teachers from her after-school programs from ten years ago!
How does your family practice health of the mind, body, and soul?
To learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of America and their Triple Play program visit their website.