With elementary students across the region settling into their school schedules, area fifth-graders are about to have a new addition to their curricula. The goal is to encourage them to become more active at a critical time in their lives.

About 1,500 public school fifth-graders in Kootenai County, and another 5,600 in Spokane County, will be receiving a Sqord. Similar to a Fitbit and other wearable activity tracking devices, a Sqord — pronounced “scored” — is worn throughout the day and gives children, their teachers and parents information on how physically active the child has been.

The program is being provided at no charge to the schools or students. It is being funded by Kootenai Health and Providence Health Care to promote a fun, team-oriented environment that reinforces the importance of regular exercise. Research shows that prior to fifth grade, most children receive an adequate amount of physical activity. Without intentional focus on physical activity, though, fifth grade is the point at which many children spend less time running and playing and more time sitting.

“As the not-for-profit health care leaders in our respective communities, Kootenai Health and Providence Health Care have both been working to bring more attention to the importance of physical activity,” said Jon Ness, Kootenai Health CEO. “Earlier this year we began talking about what we might do together to significantly impact our region. Sqord seems like a great opportunity to do that.”

Using their devices, students earn points for every step, jump and shake they make throughout the day. Points can be logged at their school and, if parents wish, on their smartphone at home. Teachers can encourage students to set and achieve personal goals or engage in activity challenges with other classrooms.

An age-appropriate website that looks more like a video game than an activity tracker provides a fun environment for the students keeping track of their Sqord activity points. Here, students can send notes of encouragement to their classmates. They can also exchange activity points for virtual “accessories” they can use to dress up their avatars; characters students create to represent themselves on the Sqord website.

Sqord is intended to motivate children of all abilities. Those who are less active or athletic at the beginning of the program are encouraged to improve their “personal best” so they don’t become bored or discouraged.

“There is plenty of evidence that tells us that physical activity is key to good health, and that the converse is true as well,” explained Elaine Couture, CEO of Providence Health Care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five young children and teenagers in the U.S. is obese, and one in three children is overweight.

“That’s why this program is so important — it utilizes the technology that our children and teenagers covet to energize today’s youth,” Couture said.

The program has a proven track record in Spokane and at numerous schools in the Pacific Northwest. Data collected from the Sqord Program in Spokane County is impressive. Children are wearing their activity trackers for an average of nine hours a day, and nearly half are recording high activity levels.

“Expanding this successful program will help create lifelong healthy habits for the next generation,” Couture added.

Safeguarding students’ privacy is a priority. Parents must give their permission for their son or daughter to participate in the program. Sqord complies with the Child Online Privacy Protection Act and takes every step necessary to ensure personally identifiable information is not available to third parties. Parents can monitor only their child’s activity by logging into their child’s Sqord account. If a parent wishes, Sqord can close an account or delete information at any time.

“Post Falls School District is very excited to partner with Kootenai Health and Providence to provide our fifth-graders with the opportunity to improve their personal health awareness by participating in the Sqord program,” said Jerry Keane, Post Falls School District superintendent. “Fun and fitness together: What could be better?”

For more information on Sqord, visit its website at Sqord.com.

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Andrea Nagel is a communications specialist employed by Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene.