BAM! Body and Mind will tell you everything you need to know about all of the stuff that matters. Whether it's nutrition, physical activity, stress, safety, or diseases, we've got you covered! We designed this specifically for you—kids 9–12 years old—and even have some awesome games and quizzes to test your skills!—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
BAM! Body and Mind provides children, parents, and teachers with information about multiple levels of health and well-being: diseases, food and nutrition, physical activity, safety, life, and the body.
Specific components include activities and downloads for teachers and games for children. BAM! Body and Mind provides educational information for children aged 9–12 years and resources for parents and teachers to educate children at home or in the classroom.
The approach is geared toward supporting children's learning about all components of health, embodying the definition of health set forth by the World Health Organization
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: “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The content sections on the Web site include topics such as modifiable risk factors for injuries and chronic and infectious diseases, strategies for coping with stress, and genetics.To reach the target audience of 9- to 12-year-olds, parents, and teachers, the Web site features colorful characters, an easy-to-navigate menu, and a diverse collection of educational games and tools. The information is presented in an entertaining way. For instance, the immune system is presented as the Immune Platoon, a team of superpowered white blood cells. Images are reminiscent of superheroes fighting against villains.
The Food and Nutrition section features recipes and snack ideas, food safety tips, and a game called Dining Decisions, which is available both through the Web site and via a phone app. The Physical Activity section is similarly interactive, featuring information about various types of physical activity, empowering messages (eg, You Can Do It, Too!), quizzes, and an activity calendar.
Although the site is easy to navigate, with a clear hierarchical structure of elements, it may not compete with games, films, television shows, and other activities that children in the target age group choose to do for fun. Despite efforts to create relatable and empowering characters and to incorporate engaging graphic and colors, the site includes a large volume of plain text. The overall look and feel are consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, not a children's gaming site. It is unlikely that many children would take advantage of this resource on their own. However, this is a tool that can teach children in an enjoyable manner if moderated by a teacher or parent.
BAM! Body and Mind is a health education tool designed to promote healthy behaviors in children by teaching them about all aspects of health. The modules could be used in totality to build an educational plan or fit into an existing curriculum. Alternately, students can easily access only modules that fit into their current interests or topics of study. BAM! Body and Mind is a useful collection of interactive tools for teaching children that health is more than just an absence of illness and that actively taking care of their health can improve their quality of life now and for their entire lives.
Reference
- Constitution of the World Health Organization: Basic documents.(45th ed. Supplement. October)
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Inclusion of any material in this section does not imply endorsement by the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Evaluative comments contained in the reviews reflect the views of the authors. Review abstracts are either prepared by the reviewer or extracted from the product literature. Prices quoted are those provided by the publishers at the time materials were submitted. They may not be current when the review is published. Reviewers receive a complimentary copy of the resource as part of the review process.
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© 2018 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
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