Youth in Motion: SPARK® – Lifelong Wellness Program

Level I (4th or 5th grade) & Level II (5th or 6th grade)
Age Range: 9 to 12

Developed through research with San Diego State University, SPARK® Lifelong Wellness teaches children and adolescents nutrition and healthy food choices, safety and injury prevention, balance and moderation in diet and exercise, and self-management. Parental involvement is encouraged via interactive home assignments and participation in activities with their kids. This behavior modification intervention is designed to influence the physical component of a student’s lifelong wellness and the impact of choices made today and in the future.

In addition to the Project SPARK® overall objectives, SPARK® Lifelong Wellness objectives include:

• Safety and injury prevention
• Moderation in diet and exercise (including recognition of health-compromising behaviors)
• Decrease in frequency of sedentary behaviors (television viewing and video game playing)
• Promotion of enjoyment and self-efficacy in physical activity

Specific components of the program include coaching students on:

• Time management skills to demonstrate how to add physical activity into each day
• Setting short-term (weekly) and long-term (monthly and beyond) goals
• Creating a positive support system with friends and/or family
• Making good decisions about physical activity and nutrition during “difficult” times, such as birthday parties and holidays (self-discipline)
• Improving personal wellness throughout life when initial goals are reached.

Strengths

• Proven curricula easily adopted in after-school and / or community programs (e.g. YMCA, Boys & Girls Club) as well as in-school programs
• Self-management and self-monitoring components contribute to sustained physical activity after program completion
• Program is proven to be self-sustaining once teachers are trained
• Program materials include outreach materials for parents and community
• SPARK support services available

Implementation
In addition to stand-alone curricula guides, SPARK offers schools implementation assistance that includes:

• Assessment/evaluation
• Curricula
• Staff development
• Equipment packages
• Follow-up/consultation

Resources
For more information on SPARK programs, curricula, and cost assessments for program implementation, contact:

The SPARK Programs
438 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 110
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: (619) 293-7990
(800) SPARK PE
Fax: (619) 293-7992
Email: spark@sparkpe.org
Web: www.sparkpe.org

JumpSTART
Based on the field-tested SPARK Curricula, JumpSTART is a free school-based program that offers elementary school teachers a series of fun activities to promote active, healthy lifestyles for grades 3 to 5. The program suggests 10 specific activities that teachers can incorporate into existing curricula to involve students in learning about the importance of physical activity and heart-healthy eating. JumpSTART also includes activities and materials for children to take home to share with their parents. The NHLBI and the National Recreation and Park Association developed JumpSTART in conjunction with Scholastic, Inc.

For more information, see:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/pahand.htm
Promoting Physical Activity: A Guide for Community Action Developed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and published by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is a resource guide for professionals and volunteers who wish to promote physical activity in almost any setting: a community, a workplace, a school setting, a health care facility, an agency or organization, or a religious institution. It’s a practical resource for community can be used by anyone interested in promoting behavior change.

Order from:
Human Kinetics
P.O. Box 5076
Champaign IL 61825-5076
Phone: (800) 747-4457
Web: www.humankinetics.com