KEEP YOUR KIDS MOVIN’ TO THE MUSIC
RECESS ROCKS AND PBS HOST UNITE TO HELP COMMUNITIES FIGHT CHILDHOOD OBESITY WITH NEW MUSIC VIDEO

Proven Children’s Movement Program, Recess Rocks®, Teams With PBS Kids® Personality “SteveSongs” to Help Grade School Kids Get Fit and Sharpen Academic Success

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2012- Ever catch your kids rockin’ out to one of their favorite songs? It’s not a hard practice to encourage. They love doing it. And they’re moving! What if there was a fitness program based on this fun energetic pastime?

To help kids kick off the New Year with refreshed energy and zest for learning, Recess Rocks, a movement program for kids, and PBS Kids’ music host Steve Roslonek, have launched a dynamic new music video—based on Recess Rocks’ Hip Hop theme song—that spurs kids into action.

The music video, along with Recess Rocks abundant, free online offerings, weave together aerobic movements—like kickboxing, African drumming and yoga—and joyful musical beats. The 1-30 minute sustained activities can be used at school to get kids fit, sharpen young minds, encourage natural “feel-good” energy, build self-esteem, improve discipline, and nurture lifelong healthy habits.

One-third of our nation’s children are overweight or obese. Moreover, today’s children are the first generation likely to have shorter life spans than their parents due to increased risks for associated complications including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and asthma. But with your encouragement this preventable disease can be reversed.

Dr. J. Nwando Olayiwola, chief medical officer of Community Health Center, Inc. (Recess Rocks’ parent organization and the largest non-profit health organization in Connecticut) and Mr. Steve discuss how Recess Rocks moves kids to health and how:

• Seamless “Recess” and “Active Classroom” programs provide ample in-school opportunities for teachers to boost academic success and help children get their recommended daily 60 minute dose of vigorous physical activity as recommended by Michele Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign, national experts and federal agencies.
  

• “Celebrations!” lets parents and caregivers join the in-school fun and strengthen the fitness message.
  


• Teacher workshops, movement instructor training and customized programs meet needs of individuals, school administrations and organizations.
  


• Online toolkit includes ample free, detailed classes, activities, guides, communications to parents and more to help meet all budgets.

About the talent:
Among her numerous awards for innovative health care, Dr. Olayiwola has been named annually as one of America's Top Family Doctors by the Consumers Research Council of America since 2007 and was a Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellow in Minority Health Policy at Harvard Medical School from 2004 to 2005.

Steve Roslonek of “SteveSongs”, and the PBS Kids’ music teacher host, blends participatory songs, clever stories and great melodies to create award-winning music for kids and families, and has performed at numerous venues including Symphony Space in New York City, the Kennedy Center and the White House.

This interview is sponsored by Community Health Center, Inc.