Despite the many health benefits associated with regular physical activity, many children and adolescents do not participate in physical activity for 60 minutes or more each day. To promote the guidelines and support youth physical activity, CDC and several partner organizations developed the Youth Physical Activity Guidelines Toolkit, which highlights strategies that school, families, and communities can use to support youth physical activity.

Young Runners is an after-school running program that teaches New York City youth of all fitness levels to run distances ranging from 1 to 6.2 miles. Through team practices and events, Young Runners increase their running performance, and learn about perseverance, teamwork, and healthy habits for life. New York Road Runners provides training, resources, and staff support, plus incentives for the children as they achieve individual goals.

Field report of successful partnerships from Action for Healthy Kids Teams in Kentucky, California and Florida, whose collaborations at the local and state levels are leading to the creation of healthier learning environments for students

Never has creating, implementing and monitoring a wellness policy been easier. This handy online tool provides step-by-step guidance, best practice examples and resources to create a local wellness policy; put the policy into action; and measure its success against goals to improve student health and learning.

It’s been three years since the federal mandate for schools participating in child nutrition programs to adopt and enforce wellness policies and, according to the landmark report, Bridging the Gap there’s been progress. But there’s also lots of work yet to be done.

We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition), a past partner of AFHK, is a science-based national education program developed by the National Institutes of Health a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ─ to help children ages 8-13 stay at a healthy weight through improving food choices, increasing physical activity, and reducing screen time. We Can! offers curricula; resources for parents and youth, including tip sheets and tools; guidance on partnership outreach, participant recruitment, and retention; and technical assistance/training, designed to enable communities and partners to adapt the program to fit their specific needs.

"Water in Schools" is a website providing background information and resources for interested stakeholders to promote water consumption in schools as a means for reducing the consumption of sugary drinks.

CDC has developed several resources to download and use when meeting with members of a neighborhood, school, or community to increase knowledge and interest in participating in a Walk & Bicycle to School program.

Team Nutrition is an initiative of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to support the Child Nutrition Programs through training and technical assistance for foodservice, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity.

The Guide provides practical strategies for those working to improve the school food environment through sodium reduction. Select strategies presented in the Guide include: Promoting more healthful items through marketing and incentives Implementing nutrient standards for competitive foods Implementing nutrient standards for school meals Modifying the built environment

Tip sheet for students on walking safely to school

Tip sheet for parents and other adults on pedestrian safety

This guide outlines the benefits of starting a walking school bus as well as points to consider before launching it.

The SHI is a self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. It's easy to use and completely confidential.

Since its inception in 1956, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports has helped motivate millions of people to be physically active each year. What began as a national youth fitness initiative has grown into the President's Challenge, a national initiative that encourages all Americans to make being active and fit part of their everyday lives. As a way to motivate and reward youth and adults for being physically active on a regular basis, the Active Lifestyle Award Program challenges adults to get physically active for 30 minutes per day, and challenges children to get active for 60 minutes per day. As they track their physical activity and reach their goals, participants become eligible for rewards and presidential awards such as certificates, patches and medals. There's also an option for using a pedometer to track daily activity.

Since 1993, The OrganWise Guys, Inc. has partnered with a variety of public and private entities to bring science-based nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle behavior messages to children. Their specialty is combining a depth of knowledge of the research on nutrition and preventative health care practices with creative, attention-getting, curriculum-linked resources that challenge listeners to change their behavior.

This report brings attention to the costs that poor nutrition and physical inactivity impose on our schools.

ASCD calls on educators, communities, and policymakers to work together to fulfill the new compact for the education of the whole child. Successful implementation of these policies results in successful learners who are knowledgeable, emotionally and physically healthy, civically active, artistically engaged, prepared for economic self-sufficiency, and ready for the world beyond formal schooling.

A joint editorial developed by Action for Healthy Kids, in partnership with other national health and nutrition organizations, which supports the use of nutrient density as the basis for dietary recommendations

The Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) can help school districts, schools, and others conduct a clear, complete, and consistent analysis of health education curricula based on the National Health Education Standards and CDC's Characteristics of Effective Health Education Curricula. The HECAT results can help schools select or develop appropriate and effective health education curricula and improve the delivery of health education. The HECAT can be customized to meet local community needs and conform to the curriculum requirements of the state or school district.