Fit Club
By Jeffrey Crupi

Parent participation is a crucial component for a child's success in school. Just like coaches assist star athletes, parents can help their children become healthy readers, writers and individuals. With a little organization from fellow teachers and administrators, you can create a school-wide fitness club that will bring your whole school community together. Here are a few steps that you'll want to consider when starting your fitness club:

1. Get the word out. Send home flyers stating the goals of your fitness club along with guidelines for successful participation. Will you focus on cardiovascular health benefits, proper nutrition, or both? Make sure your goals are achievable. The more success parents and children achieve, the more likely they'll stick to the program.
2. Give examples of activities parents can do with their kids. If your goal is to increase cardiovascular activities, create a list of exercises that can be done at home. Be creative with the types of exercises that you put on your list. Many parents are pinched for time between work, carpooling and doing errands. Exercising can include parking far away in parking lots and walking to the store, doing a lap around the mall/grocery store with their child, making dinner with their child and doing laps around the house while dinner cooks.
3. Plan for success. To increase participation, it's important to provide opportunities for parents to exercise with their children. Afternoon, evening and even weekend workout sessions at the school can be organized. Ask local gyms if they could donate a fitness class to your school. Most gyms will be willing to do this for a limited time since it has the potential to increase gym membership. By contacting various gyms, you can arrange for a variety of exercise classes at your school.
4. Assess progress. Encourage parents to chart their physical activity each day with their child. Charting progress serves as a visual reminder of one's success and the importance of staying physically fit.
5. Celebrate success. Celebrate your students' and their parents' success with regular praise. Recognition during announcements or at all-school assemblies is a great way to give kudos to those already involved and encourage other members to join your school's fitness club.

Creating a fitness club at your school will bring your whole school community together and provide opportunities for healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

Jeffrey Crupi is the owner of Peak Fitness Gym in Westport, CT. He is a certified fitness specialist with a degree from Marymount Manhattan College.