Critical Assessment of Skills Required for Childrens Exercise Physiologist - Essay Example

Galiah Alajmi Curriculum Vitae PERSONAL DETAILS Address Telephone Mobile e-mail Date of birth 26/9/1974 Nationality Kuwaiti Marital Status Single EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS Name and address of school, college or university Dates attended Subjects/courses taken and qualifications obtained Public Authority for Applied education and training Dept of physical educaton and sport Basic college of education Bsc In Physical Education And Sport EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Name of employer and address or location Dates employed Position held (job title) and List of duties or responsibilities Teaching At Primary School In Kuwait (6 Years) OTHER SKILLS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Languages Skills : Arabic, Persian & English (writing, reading and speaking) -Attended English Class at University Of Westminster - Attended English Class at Cambridge Language School - Attended English Classes at Rose of York Language School IT Skills: -Qualified in using Microsoft Word, Excel, and other office-software - Excellent Internet web browsing and e-mail - Efficient keyboard skills and Typing skills HOBBIES, INTERESTS & ACTIVITIES -Swimming - Exercises -Volunteer In Social Services REFERENCES Name Name Address Address Telephone Telephone PERSONAL PROFILE - Team Player with Leadership Ability. - Critical Thinker and Problem Solve and Fast Learner. - Being a highly motivated person with good communication skills and management techniques - Team Player with Leadership Ability. - Critical Thinker and Problem Solve and Fast Learner. - Being a highly motivated person with good communication skills and management techniques Critical Assessment of Skills Required in Chosen Employment Sector As a Children’s Exercise Physiologist, a number of specialized skills are necessary in order to succeed in such a profession. Handling children is a sensitive undertaking that requires understanding of their nature. I believe I have what it takes to be a competent professional in this area. Armed with a degree in Physical Education, I am adept in the knowledge of the principles of exercise physiology; coaching teams and individuals; first aid for playground injuries and Psychology of Children. These credentials are supplemented by my experience in teaching children for almost six years. I have also been invited to judge sports events. Active in such an environment, I have a wide experience in motivating and encouraging children in taking part in sports and exercise. I believe this career will be in more demand in the coming years due to the fact that most children are homebound, engrossed in computer games, watching videos, surfing the web for hours, etc. Children find less need to play outside because there are a lot of available conveniences and entertainment indoors for them. Hence, playing games, running around, climbing trees, bicycling, etc. are slowly becoming things of the past. Physical exercise for these children is not given much priority anymore. Many parents enrol their children in dance classes, sports, etc. just for them to have physical activity. Obesity in children has been on the rise and one factor is lack of physical activity. It has been found out that most obese children grow up to be obese adults, and many adult diseases spring up from factors of childhood risk factors (Schmidt, 2003). Experts agree that the combination of the availability of energy-dense processed foods and lack of physical activity may be the culprit of obesity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide data that suggest that the number of children attending daily physical education classes declined from 18.3% in 1995 to 12% in 2001. At the same time, they are more sedentary due to television or computer activity. In 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO, 2005) worked on a brief on childhood obesity, proving that most experts identified physical activity and the use of best practices as the key to successful health program interventions. They cited school-based and community based strategies to prevent children from being obese. As a Child Exercise Physiologist, I can do much to provide intervention for such children and design the appropriate exercises to suit their physical needs. The growing concern for preventing Obesity has caused a lot of public health programs to create activities that develop motor coordination. Apart from this, social skills of children are developed due to the nature of such physical education programs. Being an experienced teacher, I would know how to communicate with children to guide them in their physical fitness. I have developed the needed patience in handling difficult behaviours thereby instilling in these children the value of health and exercise. I believe I possess the credibility in my task as an exercise physiologist for children. I have adequate knowledge of the needs children have appropriate for their age. I know fully well that the factors of the accessibility of junk foods and the trend of “supersizing” meals, not to mention availability of high caloric foods of low nutritional value but are highly appealing to children because of its rich taste are mainly responsible for them getting less physically fit. Also, the environmental progress of eradicating some parks and natural play grounds for children to build buildings for industry and residences may not benefit the physical health of children due to the fact that they have less access to locations where they can expend their excess physical energy. However, the most common cause of the decrease in physical activity of children is that technology has made it easier to fall into a sedentary life. Children are more than adequately entertained by the multitude of choices on television shows, internet sites, computer games, etc. Still I believe human contact and physical exercise will always be attractive to children needing human connections. It is but natural to them to seek it more than the electronic connection that is so available to them. I know I have the capability not only to design physical fitness regimens for them but to entertain them as well so that they find the exercises fun and worth doing. My being a team player with leadership ability will make me successful in working with others in any work environment I am placed. I believe I can be an asset to any organization I belong to due to my being a highly motivated person with good communication skills and knowledge of management techniques. Critical thinking and my knack for problem solving are assurances that I am a fast and efficient learner in any new tasks I am deeply interested in. I believe I have the passion to drive me to deliver exceptional performance in my chosen field. Experiences and Qualifications In Relation to Employment My six years experience as a primary school teacher has gained me relevant experiences in dealing with children in various situations. With my background qualification as a degree holder in Physical Education, I have sufficient knowledge and understanding of their needs, specifically when it comes to their physical health. As a teacher, I am sensitive to those who seem to be in need of more physical activity as they may exhibit sluggishness or lack of agility and nimbleness. I can identify symptoms from their behaviour and actions. Being adept in creating programs for appropriate physical exercises, I can custom some exercise programs to suit individual needs. I am also aware of the changing needs in the employment sector I wish to belong to. The prevalence of technology’s effect on the activity level of children has both its pros and cons. Children may be fortunate nowadays to be born in an age where technology makes their lives and learning a lot easier for them, at the same time, such conveniences may be responsible in taking away their interest in indulging in physical activities which are natural to them. I believe the ideal mix of my educational qualification and experience in teaching children will make me a perfect candidate for the position of Child Exercise Physiologist, as I would know how to motivate children away from their technological entertainment and engage in more physical activities that will greatly benefit their health. Critical Reflection and Assessment of An Occupational Sector The growth of the incidences of Obesity has been alarming to cause governments to take it more seriously. As I have mentioned earlier, research has yielded findings that obese children have strong tendencies to grow up to be obese adults and many adult diseases spring up from factors of childhood risk factors. Hence, government and non-government agencies have stepped in to prevent more damage from spreading. A concrete evidence is the United States of America’s campaign for a concerted effort among schools, parents, government agencies and various institutions to encourage children to be more physically active, eat more nutritious foods and use of best practices for successful health promotion programs for children. These are detailed in a paper presented to Congressional requesters in 2005. It provides information on program strategies and elements experts have identified as likely to contribute to success in addressing childhood obesity. Cynthia Bascetta, director of Health Care wrote, “The term “program strategy” refers to the issue to be addressed by the program, such as improving nutrition choices and eating habits or increasing physical activity. Components of the program that can affect its success are referred to as “program elements.” For example, conducting a needs assessment prior to implementation, using best practice or evidence-based programs, and conducting program evaluation are all considered program elements” (GAO, 2005, p.2). As an advocate of physical fitness for all people, I am heartened by such a move made by a government agency. It shows how they are concerned for the welfare of their constituents. However, I still believe that good health practices begin at home. Parents should be well-educated on the advantages of physical exercise in their children and should be more vigilant in encouraging them to have their regular dose of it. The economic need for dual-income families have left most parents with no choice but to leave their children to be entertained by other means instead of doing it themselves. To most parents, technological advances have become their alternative solution to child care. It is common for most children to have access to cable television, the internet, a multitude of computer games, etc. that all encourage sedentary entertainment. For some parents, this assures them that their children are safely at home instead of being outside exposed to many risk factors of the times. Parents can be overprotective of their children because of rampant crimes, accidents and diseases that have been threatening the safety and security of their children. These complicated factors have put physical activity to a lower priority level in most families. However, health awareness has been on the rise thanks to government efforts to campaign against childhood obesity, and health programs are being designed to be available for children. Thus, I believe experts in the field of physical fitness will be called for employment. I have confidence that my desired position as a Child Exercise Physiologist will have a lot of openings for aspiring professionals in the field like me. These professionals will be tapped to design programs for children’s physical fitness. Such programs will be offered in schools, community centers, health clinics and other child-friendly establishments so parents will not have to worry about the safety and security of their children. They would be wise to enroll them in such programs instead of staying home spending hours and hours sedentary in front of the television or computer. This is not to say that technological conveniences such as these are bad for children. In fact, I agree to its benefits to children in terms of the information and knowledge it can provide, however, like in everything in life, moderation is key. Engaging in sports, dance and other exercise programs on a regular basis will definitely be advantageous for children to balance off the highly academic activities they have in school. It builds their muscular strength and endurance and provides great cardiovascular workouts. It also helps children build character as they learn to persist in a skill and to deal with competition and cooperation with others. It helps children to be better-rounded individuals who may soon be equipped with the necessary skills to survive in a tough world. I am confident that current trends in health and fitness will be supportive of health programs whether designed for adults or children. The many factors and influences that come with progress dictate that people go back to basics in terms of caring for themselves. Life nowadays has become too fast-paced that many people are stressed due to being so driven to succeed in a highly competitive world. Although health has taken a back seat to work and the pursuit of lofty ambitions, it is slowly catching up with people. Health awareness is pushing its head to surface in talk shows, news, and internet articles and blog sites. More research and development in the health occupational sector is definitely under way. Exercise Physiologists like me will be in greater demand in the coming years. Personal Development Plan Considering everything I have reflected on, I see a bright future in my professional development. I have outlined these plans in a timetable I am determined to keep. Development plan for the next 1 year. In a year’s time, I should have completed my Masteral program and have come back to my homeland in Kuwait to resume my post as a teacher in my former school. I shall apply all the things I have learned and perhaps develop new programs for the students in that school. I shall continue my professional growth by attending seminars and conference to further equip me with knowledge and skills in my chosen profession. Development plan for the next 3 years. In three years, I would have gained adequate knowledge and skills to help not only my clients but other aspiring professionals in the field. I intend to conduct trainings and workshops for teachers to help them develop music and movement programs for their classes. As a dedicated teacher, my expertise should be shared with others to spread good practices in physical health education. Since I believe that professionals like us will be in greater demand in the coming years, young teachers should already be equipped to come up to the challenges which will come their way. Development plan for the next 5 years In five years, I would have developed various physical fitness programs and worked with a lot of health and fitness professionals. This network will greatly help me in putting up a centre that promotes physical fitness. It may be a gym, a fitness school or a fitness clinic that provides various services that ensure good health. I can work with government agencies to volunteer my expertise in their campaign for health and well-being of people. I will likewise continue in the research and development of newer and better physical fitness programs. I believe the ultimate beneficiaries are the children, and rightly so because I want to be able to contribute to the well-being of the inheritors of this earth. That would be my way of helping ensure a better tomorrow for the world. References Schmidt, C.W. (2003) “Obesity: A Weighty Issue for Children.” Environmental Health Perspectives. Vol. 111 No. 13 October 2003 United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) (2005) “Childhood Obesity: Most Experts Identified Physical Activity and the Use of Best Practices as Key to Successful Programs” Briefing for Staff of Congressional Requesters, September 8, 2005 Read More