When I was in elementary school, two days out of every week, usually Tuesday and Thursday, began with the promise of a gym class. Waking up on ‘gym day’ was second only to waking up on Christmas morning. I would anxiously pack my gym clothes into my Knob Hill Farms plastic ‘gym bag’ and run to school with a bounce in my step. There was an unmistakable energy that permeated the school on gym day; we would smile, laugh, and sometimes even burst into song.
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As a health promotion officer (HPO) on the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity team, I take satisfaction ensuring children in Peel get to play, have fun and be kids. The biggest obstacle we face is getting them to realize just how important daily physical activity is.
We are currently piloting a project tentatively called The Action Kit. The Action Kit was developed to empower school communities with the knowledge and the tools they need to make sure their students stay active. The good news is that the message is being heard, understood and acted on.
But the work of an HPO is never done. Even as you read this, we are planning to go where no health unit has gone before - the mind of a 10-year-old. We are currently looking into an online focus testing project that will enable us to get a better understanding of what makes the typical 10-year-old tick.
In addition to learning more about their likes, dislikes, motivations, and behaviours, we are also hoping to find out why Hilary Duff and Ashley Simpson have such successful ‘singing’ careers.
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