Getting a Jumpstart on Lifelong Fitness

students know how to beat the Monday morning blahs.

The youngsters in grades 3 through 5 jumpstart their day by jumping rope for joy _ and fitness.

Every Monday through June 4, youngsters can choose to participate in “Jump Rope Jive at GES,’’ a program supported by the Grafton Medical Reserve Corps.

From 7:30 to 8 a.m. they jump rope, dance and participate in contests and themed activities, such as funny hats. The goal is to get in at least 10 minutes of jump roping in each session.

The program is sponsored by the Grafton Medical Reserve Corps, a volunteer agency best known for supporting the community in times of emergency, such as storms and other natural disasters.

But the corps also works to reach out to the community in routine times, to stress the importance of health and wellness.

“We’re always looking for activities between emergencies,’’ town nurse and Grafton Medical Reserve Corps coordinator Trish Parent said.

They had been considering working with the schools, trying to get youngsters dedicated to exercise from an early age. “This is a great age group,’’ Parent said. “They’re enthusiastic, they’re willing to listen.’’

And they wanted something that would fit “the concept of getting kids moving,’’ she said. This also reflected state and federal initiatives to encourage children to “get moving.’’

When a guest jump roper visited Grafton Elementary School to an enthusiastic response, the corps had their hook: They distributed 750 jump ropes, one for every student in the school.

They also offered a voluntary jump rope before-school program.

They had hoped for 20 students. They got about 100.

Jump roping is a great activity for children (and adults) because the ropes are portable and relatively inexpensive and the program can be done anywhere, even indoors, advocates say.

First Lady Michelle Obama has said she sometimes does 3,500 jumps in the morning before starting her day. In that way, her cardio routine is out of the way and she can go on with her day.

She has worked on an initiative called Let's Move to encourage children to fit an hour of physical activity into their days.

The Grafton youngsters, corps members hope, will also fit the jump roping into their daily routines long after the program ends June 4.

“We tell them: You kids are going to be the smartest kids today, because you’re getting oxygen to your brain,’’ said Dawn Farmer, administrative assistant for the Grafton Medical Reserve Corps.