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“Healthy, physically active students learn better!” That is the key message all physical education teachers in the KMC want to express in honor of May –
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.
To achieve that goal, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education urges parents, schools and communities to work together to help students, youth and teens become more physically active by creating “physical activity friendly”
environments.
“Children, teens and adolescents should spend at least 60 minutes every day in a variety of moderate to vigorous physical activities,” say KMC PE teachers. “In order to achieve that level of activity, we need to find more opportunities for students to be physically active throughout the entire day. Maintaining healthy bodies is not only vital for physical well-being, but for mental and emotional development as well.”
Quality physical education is the cornerstone in developing an active lifestyle; it can help students to be more active, more fit and have greater academic success. In addition to physical education, a physical activity friendly environment will include schools providing extracurricular physical activity programs and physical activity clubs that feature a diverse selection of competitive and noncompetitive, structured and unstructured activities; meet the needs and interests of all students with a wide range of abilities, particularly those with limited interests or skills in traditional athletic activities; and emphasize participation and enjoyment without pressure.
In addition, walking and biking to school, a before school physical activity break, recess and a physical activity break at lunch will be part of this new environment.
Extended day and after school programs also provide an important opportunity to incorporate physical activity into programs that typically focus on crafts, movies, board games and homework.
After school programs have a unique opportunity to increase physical activity and positive social interactions among students, teens and youth. By allowing the students to participate and hone their skills in active games, they not only gain the opportunity to succeed and get fit, but practice the skills that can help them succeed in organized sports and activities that encourage interest in regular participation outside of the program.
In summary, to get students, teens and adolescents more physically active, parents, schools and communities must establish infrastructure and a “physical activity friendly” environment. These include:
• Implementing quality physical education programs in all schools
• Making school facilities available in the non-school hours seven days a week, year-round
• Creating safe and well-lit walking paths and fitness courses on school grounds and other public areas
• Monitoring and restricting sedentary activities such as television, movies and computer games
• Implementing special family activities that involve physical activity
• Providing before school and after school programs that include physical activity opportunities
• Offering physical activity programs for school staff
• Expanding positive athletic opportunities for all students
• Providing appropriate playgrounds and recess for elementary school age children
• Encouraging schools to promote physical activity opportunities that attract and serve all students Parents and other significant adults, like teachers and coaches, should model physically-active lifestyles. Parents and guardians need to be aware of the school and community resources that they can choose from to assist students in learning to lead healthy, active lifestyles. All of us must advocate, take responsibility and seek accountability for physical activity in the education of all children and youth.
Thank you, KMC, for making “Physical Activity Friendly Environments” available for our children, students, youth and teens to participate in.
