My DD has had the same problem she needed teachers at her school where she teaches to fill out a survey for a project she was doing got zip!I do not understand why folks resist doing it??

I'm nearing second childhood - would that do?

Canajuns eligible?

ole joyful

Nick turns 7 January 11th, if you can wait until then.

Joyful, I can send it anywhere. Wish second childhoods could work but by then most parents have already passed away and I need the parent-child pair. Paula, I may have to take you up on that!

Janie, my DD's are both students as well as mothers of 8 and 9 year old boys. I'm sure they'd be happy to help. You can e-mail me from here if you need them.

I'll do it, Janie!

I have a 7 year old, I would love to help if I can:)

Stacie

Do you have a YMCA? maybe they could help!
Library?

Talk to the local Catholic Priest. Around here they do a lot of after school classes both for religious purposes and for community after school programs. Just a thought.

I don't know what questions are in the survey, or the instructions and explanations. People may not understand what your need is, and the purpose of the survey. They may see it as another attempt at gathering data that is "none of your business"; Furthermore, why should they take the trouble to fill out and mail back the form? It is of no benefit to them.

Review the survey. Is it too lengthy? Too nosy? Too personal? Present a danger of exposing personal data?

You may have to contact the families in person, interview them, and fill out the forms yourself. You can explain in person the object of the survey. Its a graduate exercise, right? No? Real research?

You might try working through PTA and Church groups. The danger here is that you may not get a balanced survey representative of the general population, but one that is skewed toward members of these groups.

Can you tell us more about the survey questions? (Always hard to get a truly 'random' sample!)

We've got ours filled out, but our scanner at home is busted. Claude will bring them to work tomorrow and try to scan them. You'll have them by Thursday at the latest.

:) Good luck. It's only the beginning.

Thanks Nicole! Blitzy- I finally found a list of the Catholic schools around the state and contacted them yesterday. Have not heard back from any but hopefully will soon. Will have to follow up with them later in the week after they have a chance to process everything.

The questions are about children's physical activity. Parents answer questions about their child's coordination and about their own physical activity. I do have a couple of questions about child and parent age and gender... and I ask the parent their highest level of education. Nothing terribly personal.

Usually have about a 20-30% response rate for this type of survey. It is just more stressful because graduation is contingent on finishing it, lol.

Stacie, I will send you an email. Thanks!

This sounds interesting. I've recently read that peers have a lot to do with determining body image. (Having overweight friends 'normalizes' being overweight. Hang around with 'Twiggys' and become anorexic!)

Chisue- I have seen that with obesity research (not so much the skinny side though). It is hard for parents to understand that yes, their child is overweight or obese and so is 60% of the child's class. Parents see their child as normal but normal can still be unhealthy.

My "thing" with physical activity is that the benefits BEYOND weight control are what needs to be addressed- even if someone never loses weight, they can still improve their cardiovascular health, mental health, and bone health from physical activity.

I don't want my nieces growing up to hate physical activity as much as I always have. I think I would have enjoyed PE class (which is actually very difference than actual physical activity) had I not had to dress out- getting dressed and undressed in front of a room full of people was horrid and really killed any enjoyment I ever got from being active.

Our DS turned 6 in October. That probably doesn't help you for a scientific study though. Happy to help if you need us.

Indy

Thanks Indy. I am sending you an email.

I had a completed survey waiting on me when I got int he office this morning- I get so excited that WVU has twice a day mail delivery- just like a little kid! LOL

8 more to go!

My 9 year old granddaughter will be here in
2 hours (10:00 am EST), if you send it, I'll see if she will complete it for you.

ML

Janie_ga -- Exercise is one of the things they recommend for DEPRESSION, too! Get moving and you will feel better.

I've noticed that using the Wii-Fit has even helped my sinus troubles -- not AS sniffy.

Many schools have cut PE almost entirely. Big mistake, and not just for the kids. Try teaching boys who haven't been able to *move around* for hours.

I was never bothered by changing clothes in the locker rooms. Never cared what someone else might think of my body -- *their* problem, not mine. LOL (And I matured early.) I do remember that those uniforms had to have been the ugliest things ever created. We had blue one-piece deals with sort of 'bloomer' bottoms. Eeew. (and P-U too)

Chisue, there is so much literature out the supporting exactly what you are saying about mental health and activity. Maybe I should get a Wii Fit for my sinuses- they are just terrible. I wonder if it is the actual movement of the head keeping goo from settling in the sinus cavities, who knows.

Now, I wouldn't care about dressing out but as an 11 year old- I hated it. Didn't really care what they thought of my body just didn't want other people looking at me, lol. I was VERY shy and introverted, lol. We didn't have uniforms just 30-60 girls (per class period) in a room fighting for space to drop our school books and find a place to sort our clothes.