E-Learning for Kids Teaches Healthy Lifestyles

I had fun this afternoon exploring the Web site e-Learning for Kids. Established in 2004, this global site has educational programs designed for children ages 5 through 12 and was developed by leading e-learning vendors and qualified instructional designers. The list of sponsors reads like a who’s who of international charitable organizations. Much of the work is donated by professional Internet educators.

The premise of the global site, created by a nonprofit group, is that children’s futures are determined in large part by their education and specifically by their ability to understand and master reading, science, math and computers. Crowded classrooms, the need to harvest crops, untrained teachers or political unrest can deny students access to a quality education. The site intends to remedy the resulting gap by leveling the playing field for students who have access to a computer.

Nick van Dam, the founder and chair of the foundation, is an internationally recognized thought leader in Learning and Human Resources Development and the global chief learning officer for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Nick was inspired to create the foundation as a way to make an impact on children, parents and teachers with not only free courseware, but also high quality courseware.

Nick says, "Research shows that engaging e-learning opportunities can be an exciting and effective way for children to develop basic skills in math, science, computers, language arts and health and life skills. As a society, we have a duty to provide all children around the world with the best learning solutions and knowledge to allow them to be successful in their lives. Making this dream a reality is the common goal of the people of the e-Learning for Kids Foundation.”

Fortunately, more students than ever, including those in third world countries, are gaining access to computers, thanks to the efforts of people like Nicholas Negroponte, founder of One Laptop Per Child. His goal is to put a durable green open-source laptop in the hands of at least one billion children between the ages of 6 and 16 in third world countries. Hundreds have already been distributed in seven pilot countries: Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, Uruguay, Libya, Pakistan and Thailand.

For students in third world countries as well as students in the United States, the e-Learning for Kids courses are free, comprehensive and user-friendly. In fact, they are so cleverly taught through graphics and sound that I had to force myself to quit playing on the site to write this blog.

The site gives users a choice of languages: English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. I considered taking one of the courses in French but decided to stick with English to assure myself of receiving a passing grade.

Given my interests, I selected the section on Health and Life Skills, where I found a course on Healthy Eating.

The first exercise involved going to a restaurant and ordering a meal. The waiter came to my table and gave me an extensive menu. I listened to the sounds of other diners as I made my selections—stuffed pita bread for an appetizer and a hamburger with french fries for the entrée. I skipped ordering a drink or dessert.

After I gave the waiter my order, I learned about the nutritional value of the choices I made, along with suggestions for healthier choices. Armed with the feedback, I called the waiter back and changed my order. Other courses on obesity, healthy weight and exercise were equally entertaining and informative.

I recently visited the Bodies Revealed exhibition in Sacramento, California, and was impressed at what I learned about the inner workings of the body. I came away with information and insight. More importantly, I returned to my daily life with a renewed commitment to my body’s care. My hope is that the health and lifestyle courses on e-Learning for Kids Web site will have the same effect. Learning how his or her body works can help a child develop a sense of stewardship.

If you have children between 5 and 12, consider adding this tool to your educational toolbox. I wish this technology had been available when my children were small, but at least I can share it with my grandchildren. You will quickly discover, as I did, that this site is an extraordinary resource for children, parents and grandparents alike. As the founders envisioned, e-Learning for Kids is marvelously effective at closing educational gaps for children everywhere, and it’s an exceptional tool for teaching health and fitness to children.