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OCCPTA Health and Safety

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

It's Time to Play

Parents can find creative ways to help their children be active every day. Simply making sure that your kids spend part of their day playing can help. Here are some easy ways to incorporate play into your family's lifestyle:

Not all activities have to involve setting aside an entire afternoon. Ten minutes here, ten minutes there--suddenly, over the course of a week, your kids will have played the equivalent of a few hours.

Take advantage of the local environment. Live near a beach? Play some volleyball, or build an obstacle course made out of sand castles. Live near a big hill? Climb it!

Remember that you can have fun indoors too. Play hide and seek, build a pillow fort, or play a favorite CD and make up a crazy dance routine that includes one move from each family member.

Break up mundane errands with some quick, fun stops. En route to the grocery store, why not stop at the park for a quick ride on the swings?

If you have to perform a small chore, make it a fun challenge. If you are mailing a letter, see how fast you can get there and back…or see if you can get all the way to the mailbox by hopping on one foot.

These tips are courtesy of Nickelodeon's Let's Just Play campaign. Visit the campaign website for more tips and ideas, as well as information about how your community can get involved in Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play, which will be held on October 1, 2005.
11:12 AM | link |

Help Kids Carry Their Loads: Backpack Safety

Aching back and shoulders…weakened muscles…tingling arms…stooped posture. Does your child have these symptoms after wearing a heavy school backpack? Carrying too much weight in a pack or wearing it the wrong way can lead to pain and strain. Parents can take steps to help children load and wear backpacks the right way to avoid health problems.

Never let a child carry more than 15 percent of his or her body weight. This means a child who weighs 100 pounds shouldn't wear a loaded school backpack heavier than 15 pounds.

Load heaviest items closest to the child's back (the back of the pack).

Check what your child carries to school and brings home. Make sure the items are necessary to the day's activities.

On days the backpack is too loaded, your child can hand carry a book or other item. Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. Shoulders and necks have many blood vessels and nerves that can cause pain and tingling in the neck, arms, and hands when too much pressure is applied.

Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly to the child's back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and strain muscles. The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should never rest more than four inches below the child's waistline.

Excerpted from American Occupational Therapy Association, "Backpack Strategies for Parents and Students: Pack It Light, Wear It Right," 2002.September 21, 2005, is National School Backpack Awareness Day. Learn more, and find out if an event is scheduled in your community.
11:10 AM | link |

The Decline of Physical Activity: Why Are So Many Kids Out of Shape?

Parents play a significant role in promoting physical activity among young people. Parents can strictly limit TV watching, computer and video game use, and consumption of fast food, and can encourage their children to walk more, play outdoors, and participate in organized physical activities. Read more about how you can keep kids in shape at home and at school.
11:08 AM | link |

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

2005 Festival in the Park

The Black History Committee of Orange County, Inc. presents its 10th Annual "Festival In The Park." This year's theme is "PROMOTING EDUCATION, HEALTH AND JOB'S." This year's festival is in partnership with the Black History Committee of Orange County, Inc., The City of Orlando, and Goodwill Industries, Inc.

Several companies will be on hand interviewing residents of Orlando/Orange County to hire for positions that are available in their company. Come join us for a day of fun to include an education, health, and job fair, family fun and games, live entertainment, vendors will be on hand selling their food, clothing and accessories, and much, much more. Parking and entry to this event is free. For further information please contact Stephanie Brown at 407-836-7741, Cassandra Snell-Ritter at 407-836-5644 or Malcolm Brintley 407-758-6283.
4:06 PM | link |

CPR For Citizens: Fire Rescue Offers Free CPR Instruction Program


The Orange County Fire Rescue Department will be holding CPR for Citizens classes at regular intervals throughout Orange County. Citizens interested in attending the next CPR for Citizens class can visit any Orange County fire station during normal business hours and pick up a registration form, or by visiting our website at http://www.ocfrd.com/. For more information call Luis Garcia-Mercado, Life Safety Education Bureau at 407-836-9886.
4:01 PM | link |