Kids Walk Across Arkansas
Education and Safety
Dressing for Physical Activity
Goal: To dress appropriately for the physical activity.
Objectives:
Participants will:
- Learn wearing the proper shoes will help prevent injuries.
- Discuss points to remember when buying shoes.
- Know the best time of the day to try on shoes.
- Choose proper clothing to be worn during physical activity.
Key Teaching Points:
- Four points to consider when buying shoes are: support, cushioning, performance, and fit.
- Try shoes on late in the day.
- Comfort is the most important point when buying shoes.
- Wear clothing that is appropriate for the activity.
- Cotton clothing is usually the best material.
- Consider the temperature during physical activity.
Dressing for Physical Activity
This most important thing to remember about physical activity is that it
should be fun. Wearing the right clothing during physical activity helps to make
it fun. Clothes can reflect your personality and still be safe and comfortable.
Let’s start by looking at the kind of shoes you should wear.
Shoes
Shoes are very important. For every step you take, each foot takes on the
weight of your whole body. If you are running, jogging, or jumping, your feet
take on the extra stress of the body going up and down. When you go to buy
shoes, remember four things
1. Support
The back of the shoe should be firm to help control the foot. This helps to
prevent the Achilles tendon from being injured.
2. Cushioning
Shoes should have plenty of cushion especially
in the heel because the heel of the foot hits the ground first and then rolls to
the toes.
3. Performance
Shoes should be lightweight and durable. The bottom of the shoe should have
traction to prevent falls. Shoes should be made of material that will allow
sweat to evaporate, such as nylon mesh.
4. Fit.
Shoes that fit right will make any activity more
fun.
Tips to help ensure a good fit when buying shoes
are:
- Shop late in the day when your feet are the biggest.
- Wear the same type socks you will wear during physical activity.
- The toe box, the toe end of the shoe, should be large enough for you to wiggle your toes and about a thumbnail longer than your longest toe.
- Feel inside the shoes for seams and ridges.
- The shoes should bend easily at the widest part.
- Walk briskly around the store to check for comfort and cushioning.
- Make sure the shoes feel good on your feet.
Once you have the proper shoes, look at the
clothes you will wear during physical activity. All clothing should be
loose-fitting to permit freedom of movement. You should feel comfortable and
feel good in your clothes.
Clothes
Physical activity causes you to produce body heat. Light-colored cotton or
cotton blend clothing that reflects the sun’s rays is cooler in summer. Dark
layered clothes are warmer in winter. You can remove a layer if you feel you are
getting too hot. Hats are a good idea in winter or summer. Never wear rubberized
or plastic clothing because such garments interfere with the evaporation of
perspiration and can cause body temperature to rise to dangerous levels. During
the summer, wear some type of tennis hat or sailor’s hat that provides shade and
can be soaked in water to help keep you cool. Hats with a 3-inch brim provide
the best protection against sunburn. In winter, wear wool type hats or ski caps
to hold body heat in. Remember, the right shoes and clothes help any physical
activity to be safe and fun.
Shoe Activity:
Have different types of shoes available for the participants to look at. For
example, have a pair of hiking boots, walking shoes, regular keds, football
shoes, etc. Have the participants look at the shoes and discuss what they would
be used for and why they are the best shoes to wear for each physical activity.
Clothing Activity:
Have different kinds of activity clothes. For example, shorts, tank tops,
hats, football jersey, baseball pants, etc. Give one garment to each child then
have each child tell why that garment is right for the activity it is used for.
Shorts may have more than one activity they are worn for - you may ask each
child with shorts to name an activity and tell why they would wear shorts for
that activity. If time and space allows, let each child give a short
demonstration of the activity performed with each type of clothing.
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Arkansas Education and Safety
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