Hip hop health
"Eat your vegetables!" "Be active!" With the number of children at risk for childhood obesity increasing every day, there's a lot of pressure on kids and parents to make the right choices about food and exercise. But as many parents can tell you, staying healthy isn't cheap.
Jaime Smith, RN, a research nurse in the Children's Hospital Primary Care Center (CHPCC), is trying to change all that by bringing together her love of dance with her desire to keep kids healthy. As part of her local dance troupe, Rainbow Tribe, and their outreach programs, Smith has started a free dance class to help patients in Children's One Step Ahead (OSA) program and their families get active.
OSA provides early treatment and prevention services in a primary care setting to children, age 3 to 13, who are, or are at risk of being overweight. It's designed to change behavior using principles of motivational interviewing, food-based goals and needs-based community physical activity programs.
"We focus on nutrition and physical activity," says Jennifer Rein, MSW, OSA's clinical coordinator and social worker. "We encourage healthy lifestyle and eating habits and give parents and kids practical things they can do everyday."
The dance class is one of those practical things. It showcases alternatives to traditional physical activity, including jazz, hip-hop, break-dancing and more for kids age 8 to 13, while educating them about nutrition.
Nine-year-old Michael Hawkesworth has been attending the dance class with his parents, Jannell and Geoffrey, since February, before even starting the OSA program. "It's a good thing," says Jannell. "It's something we can all do together as a family that's fun."
"I like to move around and dance," adds Michael.
"The kids put in what they want, find their own style and just go with it," says Smith. "I don't care about the choreography. I just want them to walk away with a positive experience."
Children are referred to the program by their primary care physicians at CHPCC. "I am truly excited about the collaboration between Rainbow Tribe and One Step Ahead," says CHPCC Director Joanne Cox, MD. "This is very much in keeping with our goals in primary care to develop collaborations between community groups and our staff."
"Activity is often difficult for urban kids due to lack of opportunity," adds Cox. "However, we've been delighted to find that they absolutely love to danceÄīkids, parents and staff!"
The class is held the third Tuesday of every month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Enders Building, Byers A & B. Contact Jaime
Smith at ext. 5-5255 or Jennifer Rein at
ext. 5-6968 for more information.
