It’s not enough to teach children reading, writing and math. Teachers and parents must teach children how to be healthy.

Events like Jump Rope for Heart a t Burlington Elementary School go a long way in doing just that. Not only does the national event promote healthy lifestyle choices for participants, it is also a fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

Donations to the organization support research, education, advocating for better health, improving patient care and reaching at-risk populations.

This year, Burlington students raised more than $11,000 for the AHA and its fight against the nation’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers — heart disease and stroke.

The most recent data complied by the heart association says that about 32 percent of children are overweight or obese. Events like Jump Rope for Heart are more important than ever in showing children that exercise and eating healthy isn’t just the right thing to do, but that it’s also fun.

Kudos to Burlington Elementary for teaching students that being healthy and being community-minded go hand-in-hand.