The Tea Park and Recreation Board recently added one more activity to its summer lineup that will help keep kids in shape.
Kid Fit Camp is a three-day event designed to teach kids the importance of healthy habits like being active and eating good foods.
The program is headed up by Tea resident Kari King for kids ages 3-11 Monday, Wednesday and Friday (June 22-26) at Tea City Park.
King, who has three children of her own, noticed how many kids are home and unattended during the summer.
“They use the pool, but that’s not open until 1 p.m.,” she said. “There’s not a lot for kids to do before the pool’s opening time. A lot of time kids are at home playing video games, laying around or getting into trouble.”
King has been a personal trainer for 13 years and said South Dakota has one of the highest childhood obesity rates – 33.8 percent. The state national average is 17 percent, she said.
“That’s a huge issue. Each day kids should be doing 45 minutes of something that increases heart rate,” King said.
That includes swimming, walking and riding bike.
“Anything that is longer than getting up to check the mail,” she said.
Fast food has become a staple, too.
“Most of Tea is a two-income family community and it’s about convenience – it’s easy to grab fast food and chips,” King said.
Enforcing healthy habits at a young age will most likely lead to healthy habits as an adult, she said.
“Those habits will carry on throughout their lifetime. They’ll be bored sitting at home if (exercise) is something they’ve always grown up doing,” King said.
Parents should encourage kids to want to participate in soccer, flag football and all the activities the Park and Rec offers, she said.
Volunteering is another part of being active. Some kids don’t like sports, she said, but they could help set up or work at a concession stand.
“It’s about exercise, eating healthy and contributing to your community,” King said.
While at the camp, kids will participate in games and team building exercises – all activities to getv kids up and moving.
Preschool age kids will play games, while the older kids will focus more on fitness. They will challenge themselves in relay games and learn a dance. King will talk about different types of exercise, too – not just push ups and sit ups, but kickboxing, dancing and other fun, motivational activities.
Groups will talk about healthy food choices, too, and on the last day of the camp each age group will make a healthy snack like a cereal mix or fish in a pond – a rice cake, cream cheese and goldfish crackers.
Park and Recreation Board Member Rob Hoffman said he was excited to have King bring the camp to the community; it offers an opportunity for kids to get active without being in athletics.
King said if this camp is a success she would like to hold more camps throughout the summer.
Kids ages 3-5 will meet from 9-9:30 a.m. Six-8-year-olds meet from 9:45-10:30 a.m., and
Kids 9-11- from 10:45-11:45 a.m. The cost is $10 per child and includes a t-shirt.
To register for the camp, log on to www.teaparkandrec.com. For questions, call King at 212-6126.