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| EXPERIENCE |
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| Melissa Malpass is the owner and program director of Stretch-n-Grow® in your area. Melissa is a fitness enthusiast and a mom. Melissa taught Elementary Education for ten years with the Lewisville I.S.D. before joining the Stretch-n-Grow family. She and her coaching staff are certified youth fitness instructors, as well as CPR and first aid
certified. |
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| YOUTH FITNESS GUIDELINES |
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| Our Youth Fitness Guidelines are in compliance with AFAA (Aerobic & Fitness Assn. Of America), ACE (American Council on Exercise), ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics). Our curriculum and exercise glossary are safe, effective and age-appropriate. |
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| OUR INSTRUCTORS |
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| EVERY instructor is a certified Youth Fitness Specialist and is certified in CPR and First Aid. Our comprehensive training program is rigorous and on going. Each instructor attends quarterly training camps to maintain the integrity of our program, as well the childcare licensing credentials mandated by the state of Texas. All instructors are caregiver certified. Additionally, we provide liability insurance. |
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| HISTORY |
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| Stretch-n-Grow, Inc. – the world’s largest network of children’s fitness professionals - originated in Galveston, Texas in 1992. After an intense study and the discovery of alarming statistics concerning the health status of American’s young children, the founders of Stretch-n-Grow® set out on their mission to change the course for children everywhere. Stretch-n-Grow® has expanded to over 1,000 cities across America,
Canada, England, Ireland, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Portugal and Spain. |
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| ADVISORY BOARD |
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| Our exercises and curriculum were developed under the supervision of an Advisory Board consisting of pediatricians, nutritionists, educators and fitness professional. Our Advisory Board and Affiliate Advisory Council regularly review our program to ensure that our participants enjoy the most effective and safe exercises available for children. |
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| MISSION |
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| To lay a foundation for a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude toward well- being To establish life-long patterns of fitness and good eating habits To prepare children for participation in physical education and athletic programs To empower parents and child care providers in setting a healthy example for children. |
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| CLASS COMPONENTS & PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS |
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| Much like that of an adult aerobics class, every class consists of the following elements: age appropriate warm-up story, endurance, resistance and strength training, activity and coordination, cool down and stretch. Class is completed by a muscle review and topic discussion. |
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| We structure our classes based upon the age group and their basic level of motor behavior as described below. Each lesson plan is designed to enhance and improve the fitness level of each specific age group in a creative and structured setting. See Motor Behavior Chart below: |
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| Age Range |
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| 18 Months |
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| 18 Months |
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| 18 Months |
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| 18 Months |
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| 18 Months - 2 Years |
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| 2 Years |
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| 2 Years |
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| 2-3 Years |
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| 3 Years |
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| 3 Years |
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| 3-4 Years |
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| 4+ Years |
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| 4+ Years |
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| 4+ Years |
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| Motor Behavior |
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| Curiosity is extensive |
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| Can run |
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| Climb upward but not down |
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| Walk backwards |
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| Can gallop |
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| Can jump in place with both feet |
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| Roll a ball |
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| Can begin to kick a ball |
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| Balance on one foot (5 seconds) |
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| Throws underhanded |
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| Can run, hop and skip |
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| Slide sideward on feet |
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| Balance on one foot (10 seconds) |
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| Throws over handed |
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| PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS. . . |
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| 30-minutes (3’s – 5’s) or 20-minutes (toddlers & two’s) of continuous, fun, safe and effective exercises designed for young children Action-packed, non-stop fitness class where every child is the focus – no waiting in line! Skill-specific equipment used in every class for every child Exercise emphasizing large muscle groups, motor skills, coordination, balance, resistance, flexibility and aerobic activity
Structured activities that help create spatial awareness, rhythm and social development Physical conditioning prepares kids for skilled activities necessary for competitive and team sports Age-appropriate lesson hand-outs on important topics such as exercise, health, nutrition, safety and hygiene and monthly newsletters for parents Classes starting at age 18 MONTHS |
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| Statistics on Children’s Health and Fitness |
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| University of Michigan – Fitness for Youth Program Research Nine out of ten parents think their children are physically fit, when actually only one out of three are. |
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| Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (TN) |
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Physical inactivity and poor diet together account for at least 300,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. |
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The incidence of obesity among young children has doubled in the last 10 years. |
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Physical inactivity increases the risk of premature death and heart disease, and developing diabetes, colon cancer and high blood pressure. |
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Quality physical education programs serve as the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. |
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| American Journal of Medical Science |
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Children who perform better on standardized tests have more favorable body composition and lipid profiles (HDL or “bad” cholesterol). |
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Programs that increase regular activity in youths hold promise in reducing adult heart disease |
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| Journal of the American Medical Association |
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By 1998, 22% of black children aged 4 to 12, 22% of Hispanic and 12% of white children were significantly overweight. |
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Between 1991 and 2000, incidence of obesity increases 61% and incidence of type 2 diabetes increased 44%. These are called “twin epidemics.” (2001) |
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| American Heart Association |
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Parents who model healthy eating and exercise habits greatly influence their children’s health. |
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Healthy lifestyle training should start in early childhood. |
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| Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) |
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Each year, physical inactivity contributes to nearly 260,000 deaths in the United States. |
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Healthy lifestyle training should start in early childhood. |
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5.3 million (12.5%) American children are overweight or obese. |
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71% of American adults are overweight; 30% are obese (those in excess of 200 lbs.). |
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| Baylor College of Medicine |
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Children today have a shorter life expectancy than their parents for the first time in 100 years because of the epidemic of obesity. |
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20 years ago, less than 1% of children were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes; today that number has risen to 27%, primarily due to obesity. |
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| U.S. Department of Agriculture |
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70% of overweight children aged 10 to 13 will be overweight and obese adults. |
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| United States Dietary Association (USDA) |
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Fewer than half of U.S. school children participate in physical education. (1998) |
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| World Health Organization |
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Obesity is doubling every 5 years. At this rate, every person in America will be obese by 2230. |
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