Originally published June 4, 2019 in the Philadelphia Tribune.
By Chanel Hill
Athletics have been a mainstay in schools for decades. Today, the field has merely expanded, encompassing an even greater variety of competitive options for students.
At the Edward Heston School at 1621 N. 54th St., playing sports has not only allowed students to compete and win championships, but it has also given them the tools to succeed in the classroom. Read More
Originally published June 13, 2019 by ThurstonTalk.com.
By Heidi Smith
Healthy kids have better grades and higher graduation rates. We know there is a strong connection between education and health – a good education often leads to better jobs, higher income earnings and better access to resources that reinforce health over one’s lifetime. When schools inspire and help students, staff, and teachers to be at their physical, mental, and emotional best, learning thrives.
Kaiser Permanente is embracing this challenge head on through their Thriving Schools program. “Thriving Schools is our all-in engagement to improve health for students, staff and teachers,” says Kaiser Permanente Program Manager Jill Patnode. Read More
Originally published June 11, 2019 in MedicalXpress.com
Physical activity in early childhood may have an impact on cardiovascular health later in life, according to new research from McMaster University, where scientists followed the activity levels of hundreds of preschoolers over a period of years.
They found that physical activity in children as young as three years old benefits blood vessel health, cardiovascular fitness and is key to the prevention of early risk indicators that can lead to adult heart disease. Read More
Originally published June 4, 2019 in Science Daily.
Cardio-respiratory capacity in children has dropped by 25% in 20 years, according to a study by the University of Adelaide in Australia.
There are multiple reasons for this, from the social environment and the decreasing number of play areas to a more academic approach towards teaching physical education and the spread of new technologies. But at what age do children lose the desire to exercise?
Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, followed 1,200 Geneva pupils, aged 8 to 12, for two years. The team found out that from the age of 9, the positive reasons for exercising — it’s fun and good for your health — begin to be replaced by more displaced incentives: to get a good mark or improve your image with others. These results, which are published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise, call for a more detailed analysis of how PE is taught in schools to counter physical inactivity leading to a sedentary lifestyle from an early age. Read More
Originally published June 9, 2019 in The County Press.
By Nicholas Pugliese
Imlay City Middle School physical education teacher Greg Prendergast heard four years ago about the positive effects the “Iron Man/Iron Maiden” contest had for students at Bellville Schools and knew Imlay City kids had what it takes.
Imlay City Middle School’s version of the event featured six individual fitness tests — leg lifts, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, shuttle run and sprint, each scored to top four for male and female students. “In health class we discuss the F.I.T.T. Model — the acronym stands to frequency, intensity, time and type,” said Prendergast. “The benefits are truly up to the individual, but we saw increased confidence and team comradery that came as a result of the Iron Man/Iron Maiden program.” Read More