5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! The Mileage Club

Have you ever heard of a Mileage Club Toe Token? Well, if you are a primary school student in my town, you are working very hard every week to keep earning them - in all different colors. I recently blogged about some of the 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! initiatives that my town is doing, and I have to say, Mileage Club is one of my personal favorites.

This school activity focuses on the 1 (of 5-2-1-0): 1 hour of Physical Activity a day. Starting late fall and going through the end of May, all primary school students participate in Mileage Club during lunch recess once a week. Kids earn “toe tokens” (bright colored plastic feet designed to be worn on shoe laces or attached to backpacks) for completing each mile marker card.
 

It’s a fun way to develop the healthy habit of walking. The mileage club is supported by PTA funds and parent volunteers. Last year, more than 2.5 million children in nearly 15,000 schools logged almost 30 million miles (48 million kilometers). This focus on activity helps to reduce playground hassles, increase kids’ learning readiness and fight obesity.

As a parent, Mileage Club is one of the most fun and highly requested volunteer activities at the school. My 1st grader was jumping up and down excited when I told her that it was my turn to volunteer. She was up early this day dressed in her “athletic outfit” that consisted of pink CHEER sweats, a blue RUN shirt, and of course her pink sparkly headband. She was ready & excited to be active today (even if her clothes did not match)!

I arrived at school just after 11am and met the other volunteers (there are 4 total). We got our magic markers ready to mark the mileage club cards, and we had the “toe token” charms ready for anyone who completed their entire card. Each card has about 20 laps to check off before you turn in your completed card (which = 3 miles total). The kids have 20 minutes to walk as many laps as they can. Each time they do a lap they line up in front of the parent volunteers who check off a lap on their cards.

It’s adorable to watch these kids SO excited to be walking…some walk alone, some hold hands, some skip, and some walk REALLY fast…almost trying to run (which is not allowed). As my daughter’s class came out she was giggling with excitement as she saw me…along with all her friends. Instead of just “plain old” check marks, I had many requests for a star, heart, or diamond “check” on their cards as they walked their laps.

I am so happy to be able to support the school in this wonderful physical activity initiative that is providing children with a sense of accomplishment, recognition, and a source of positive image building. That night as we sat together for dinner we talked about our “highs” and “lows” of the day. My daughter was anxious to share that her “high” was Mommy being at Mileage Club and how close she is to getting another toe token on her backpack. She is wishing for a purple one to add to her collection.
 

by KimG on 03/21/2012 | Share Story With a Friend

tags: motivation, exercise, kids, mommy blog