CENTER TWP - It had been 35 years since anyone asked him to stretch that far toward his toes, but Perry Constantino was up to the challenge.

On Tuesday, Constantino joined his 12-year-old daughter, Chelsea, at Center Township Elementary School for a parent-student gym day.

Sitting on the floor with a box in front of him, Constantino was supposed to push it as far forward toward his feet as he could. He almost made it all the way before quitting, sighing loudly.

His effort earned him praise from one of the teachers monitoring the program, but his daughter teased him a little about it.

"That's not bad," she said, smiling. "But I can go farther than that."

Perry Constantino said while he may have trouble touching his toes, his children are very active.

"We do a lot of activities like dance and soccer," he said. "And we play in the yard a lot. The kids are very active - all three of them."

Chelsea Constantino said she was glad her dad came to participate in the event because it made it more fun.

Physical education teacher Lew Liparulo said it was his intention to help spur family fitness by having the parent-student gym day.

A recent study by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine showed lack of physical activity was the most significant of all risk factors for obesity among children age 11 to 15.

Liparulo said he hopes to help combat the growing obesity rate by encouraging and promoting physical fitness.

"We want them to understand that fitness is more than just being able to run," Liparulo said. "It includes agility, flexibility and stamina, too."

Parents were invited to join students in gym classes throughout the day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Liparulo said.

The American Heart Association also attended the gym days, providing students with information about heart health and how it relates to total fitness and well being.

Students in grades four, five and six participated in the event.

Liparulo said that in the weeks leading up to the gym days, students spent time learning about the aspects of physical education.

Getting the parents to come and participate was a way to encourage his students to be more active, Liparulo said.

"We feel we should try to get (parents) involved because they have the biggest impact on children," Liparulo said.