Healthy Schools, Great Schools: Activity
Healthy children are happy children, and healthy schools are great schools. The United States is in the grip of an obesity epidemic, and since children spend most of their most formative (physically, mentally, and emotionally) years in schools, both public and private, it's become increasingly important to make sure that every child receives an education that keeps them physically healthy and mentally stimulated, and teaches them how to stay that way.
Exercise
Recess
Every kid loves recess. Ask any middle-schooler what their favorite subject is and they'll probably say recess! Over the years, recess has become synonymous with “lunch,” and as schools have worked harder and harder to cram more classes into the same number of hours (despite seldom achieving better test scores and yielding twitchier, more obese students), the amount of free time that students have to run and play during recess has been severely cut.
Playtime is valuable for young (and even high school aged) students for a variety of reasons. The surgeon general recommends at least 30 to 45 minutes of vigorous physical activity every day to maintain healthy weight. Children no longer walk to and from their homes, neither to get to school for the day, nor to have their daily meal.
Great schools know that if they give their students more time to run around and play during recess, they will be giving the children the gift of better metabolism, fewer stored calories (which turn into fat), and they will be giving their teachers the gift of students who have been properly physically stimulated and aren't looking for a physical outlet in the middle of math class.
Gym Class
Gym class often gets the short end of the stick when it comes to education. Students find the games and events unrewarding, gym teachers rarely get the respect and appreciation that they deserve, and when the time comes for budget cuts, gym (and extra-curricular physical activities) are often the first ones to suffer.
This lack of physical education for our youth is doing damage both now and down the road. Phys ed class offers educators a valuable opportunity to reach their students and teach them about proper, healthy activity levels. What is a healthy weight and body composition? How can students feel good about themselves by engaging in regular physical activity for life? When will they learn these things? If not in class at a great school early on in life, then very likely never.
After School Activities
Sports
Sports, like gym and recess, teach our young students many things: teamwork, cooperation, leadership, and healthy physical activity. Students who play sports work better with a group later in life, and tend to develop better health-promoting habits for their whole lives.
If you are a parent and you want to make sure that your child has ample opportunities to engage in team sports, get active with your local school board. Pay attention to regular budget votes: you should be able to obtain a copy of the budget before the vote.
Keep your school a great school by making it an active school. If you want sports and other physical activities in the budget, get involved and make some noise!
Fitness Groups and After-Care
Many schools offer after-school care for their students who are too young to be home alone after school. Sometimes called “latch key” program, these programs offer opportunities for students to socialize, develop study skills, and of course, get active.
Make sure that you meet the staff running your afterschool program if you are leaving your child in their care. Great schools promote the health and development of their students before, during, and after school.