Has it been awhile since your child was involved in a PE class? If not, he's not alone. According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publication, fewer than half of high school students participated in a physical education class in 2003. Whether this is a result of budget cuts or making more time for academics, our children are losing out physically.

What can parents do to put physical activity back into the daily lives of school children? Parents and teachers have worked together in some school districts to offer the following:

A fitness fair, set up in the gym or cafeteria, to offer information about healthy eating and activity, samples of nutritious foods, and discounts for physical activity classes or lessons.

Intramural activities or clubs such as inline skating, swimming or yoga

Contracts with community agencies such as YMCA or fitness clubs to offer discounts for after school programs

Fitness breaks during academic classe - 10 minutes of stretching, brisk walking or other physical activity

School-wide fitness challenges, where children and teachers participate in making progress toward established fitness goals