Schools Are an Ideal Place to Promote Daily Physical Activity
Physical activity patterns established in childhood can last into adulthood and improve health and developmental outcomes throughout life.
Regular physical activity in childhood develops cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility, and bone density. It helps to maintain a healthy body weight, reduces risk factors for chronic disease and has positive effects on mental health. Physical activity contributes to academic achievement, social skills, self-esteem and confidence in an activity setting. That confidence often arises from having learned fundamental movement and sport skills, or physical literacy as a child.
Teachers are an important role model and schools are an ideal place to promote health and physical activity because children and youth spend more time within schools than any other setting. In addition to supporting physical activity, schools can influence student behaviour for activities occurring before, during and after school. School-based initiatives can reach almost every child regardless of age, ability, gender, culture and socio-economic background. Both structured and unstructured activity is important and daily activity can be obtained through classes, sports, intramurals, dance, but also through play time and walking or biking for transportation.
Physical activity promotion is truly effective and leads to sustainable knowledge and behaviour change when it valued as a whole school responsibility and reinforced within the entire school community. The best practice is a comprehensive approach which encompasses the whole school environment. Find out more about Comprehensive School Health.
