ICT is Early Childhood Development
ICT is committed to Early Childhood Development for the betterment
of the children and families in our community.
As an active participant in its community, ICT encourages input
and feedback from community leaders, parents and other early
childhood development professionals. This interaction has helped
ICT craft its programming into a very effective community asset,
helping children of all backgrounds and races to develop into
positive and successful community members.
Fitness and Nutrition Mission Statement
- InnerCity Tennis will help educate, motivate and support our participants (children,
youth, families, volunteers and staff) to achieve a fit and healthy lifestyle.
- We will inspire participants to change their lives by being physically active
and educate them to make nutritional food and healthy eating choices.
- We will strive to develop a life-long love of fitness among our participants
and will provide them with information and programming to support this mission.
Fitness
ICT is committed to introducing kids to fitness in a fun, enjoyable way. We believe
that by exposing children to fitness in an exciting, non-competitive setting we will
help them embrace fitness - for life. Our programs are geared for kids to compete against
themselves, not against each other. We want kids to focus on continual self-improvement,
not comparison.
At ICT, we have always known the importance of getting kids moving. We see the good
things it does for kids. Now, there is proof, results of an April 2010 study by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention support physical activity. "When children
participate in physical activity for at least 60 minutes daily, multiple health benefits
accrue.”
The research shows that physical movement affects the brains' physiology by increasing
cerebral capillary growth, blood flow, oxygenation, production of neurotrophins, growth
of nerve cells in the hippocampus (center of learning and memory), neurotransmitter
levels, development of nerve connections, density of neural network, and brain tissue
volume.
These changes are associated with:
- improved attention span
- improved information processing, storage, and retrieval
- enhanced coping
- enhanced positive attitude
- reduced sensation of craving and pain
Extracurricular physical activity studies indicate positive effects on academic performance,
grade point average, verbal and conceptual skills, and decreased high school dropout
rates.
Nutrition
Good fitness and good nutrition go hand in hand. Without the development of healthy
nutritional choices, real fitness is not possible. Learning about healthy choices
must also begin early in a child’s life and be continually reinforced as the child
grows and develops.
To help young children begin to recognize good nutritional choices, we
have incorporated graphic images into six activity stations each depicting a different
healthy food or beverage choice. Each target stands 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide,
and are vibrant works of art designed to attract attention. We reinforce these images
by giving each child a piece of fresh fruit and water at the end of each session.
Families are encouraged to support healthy food and snack choices with their children
in their daily lives. With the help of a Dietitian, we have developed a booklet emphasizing
appropriate nutritional choices for an active lifestyle
- before, during and after physical activity and,
- advice on fast food, breakfast and snack choices and maintaining healthy weight.
This booklet is distributed to program participants annually. And, supplemented
by healthy recipe ideas for families to prepare and enjoy together included in our,
Family News – Community Connection Newsletter.
Fitness & Nutrition Resources
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