Students Learning To Be Healthy, Active
By: Lisa Miller
Updated: April 18, 2012
PEORIA -- Some area medical residents are taking action for children's health. For the second year, pediatric residents at the U of I College of Medicine are raising money for the Children's Hospital of Illinois. They're getting pledges for every step they take on the job this week. But this year, they wanted to do more. They've taken their medical expertise to area schools to encourage kids to get fit and stay healthy.
Learning how to be healthy never been so fun. Students at Dunlap's Ridgeview Elementary School are getting a lesson in health from pediatricians in training. While students have fun racing like a crab for healthy snacks, doctors say there's a much bigger message.
"Childhood obesity is going up. It's the one of the most prevalent causes of problem in children in the u.s. this is an opportunity for them to eat healthy, have a healthy lifestyle and those building blocks start at this point," said Dr. Jawad Javed, pediatric residency director.
Students were able to participate in different stations during the health fair. They learned about the importance of regular doctor check ups and how their blood works.
"It's really important to be healthy because if you want healthy blood because things you eat have effects on your blood, too. If you don't have healthy blood, you won't have a healthy heart," Savonia Mahr-Threw, a fourth grader, said.
They also learned about exercises and eating right.
"Our body needs to get healthy and if you don't eat healthy food you'll be like sick," said Maquai Stewart.
Students were taught about the importance of keeping clean and hand washing. And what all those germs really look like on their skin.
"If your hands are dirty and you touch something and someone touches it, they might get sick," said Maquai Stewart, a fourth grader.
Doctors say it's activities like these that show students it can be fun to be healthy and gives them the skills they'll need to eventually become healthy adults.
"We want to get those students to understand why it's important. If you know why you're doing something, you're more prone to continue healthy lifestyle choices," Dr. Javed said.
The doctors will be at Dunlap's Wilder Waite Elementary School tomorrow with their presentation.
Learning how to be healthy never been so fun. Students at Dunlap's Ridgeview Elementary School are getting a lesson in health from pediatricians in training. While students have fun racing like a crab for healthy snacks, doctors say there's a much bigger message.
"Childhood obesity is going up. It's the one of the most prevalent causes of problem in children in the u.s. this is an opportunity for them to eat healthy, have a healthy lifestyle and those building blocks start at this point," said Dr. Jawad Javed, pediatric residency director.
Students were able to participate in different stations during the health fair. They learned about the importance of regular doctor check ups and how their blood works.
"It's really important to be healthy because if you want healthy blood because things you eat have effects on your blood, too. If you don't have healthy blood, you won't have a healthy heart," Savonia Mahr-Threw, a fourth grader, said.
They also learned about exercises and eating right.
"Our body needs to get healthy and if you don't eat healthy food you'll be like sick," said Maquai Stewart.
Students were taught about the importance of keeping clean and hand washing. And what all those germs really look like on their skin.
"If your hands are dirty and you touch something and someone touches it, they might get sick," said Maquai Stewart, a fourth grader.
Doctors say it's activities like these that show students it can be fun to be healthy and gives them the skills they'll need to eventually become healthy adults.
"We want to get those students to understand why it's important. If you know why you're doing something, you're more prone to continue healthy lifestyle choices," Dr. Javed said.
The doctors will be at Dunlap's Wilder Waite Elementary School tomorrow with their presentation.
