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Barnes selected to be part of Recess Rocks in R.I. initiative

Originally published April 19, 2019 in the Johnston Sunrise.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI), Playworks New England and the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition (RIHSC) have added the first Johnston school to their roster of schools participating in the statewide #RecessRocksinRI initiative.

Barnes Elementary School joins a group of 80 total #RecessRocksinRI schools increasing physical activity and building social/emotional skills through the power of play. Read More

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School board to consider adding yoga course

Originally published Feb. 26, 2019 by KMVT-11.

By Elenee Dao

A teacher from a Twin Falls school is trying to implement a yoga course, to help supplement their students’ physical activities.

Health education and physical education teacher Leah Holloway, with Canyon Ridge High School, said they went to the school board to get the course on the schedule for next year. Read More

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Setting Preschoolers on an Active Path

Originally published Feb. 12, 2019 in U.S. News & World Reports.

By Len Canter, HealthDay Reporter

Physical activity is closely linked to development of a child’s mental skills — ones essential to academic success and navigating challenges they’ll face throughout life.

Studies show that boosts in thinking ability, or executive function, often follow bouts of activity. But only one-third of children are physically active every day. Less than half the time they spend in school activities — like physical education, team practices and even games — includes movement that qualifies as physical activity. This shortfall means that their physical health, as well as their mental skills, may suffer. Read More

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‘I have a first grader who hasn’t been outside since October’: Mom questions lack of recess

Originally published Feb. 4, 2019 in the Bristol Herald Courier.

By Valerie Honeycutt Spears

The mother of two Fayette County, Ky., students is questioning how much physical activity her children get at school.

Janine Schmedding-Bartley, who has two children at Millcreek Elementary School, said her “first-grader hasn’t been outside since October.

At a public hearing, she said her fifth-grade daughter and her first-grade son get far less physical activity than was offered at schools in Michigan. The family moved from there to Lexington this academic year. Read More

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Hunter research helping to show how exercise supports academic achievement

Originally published Jan. 4, 2019 in the Newcastle Herald.

By David Lubans

With so much emphasis on academic achievement, it can be difficult for physical activity and sport to gain traction in the school environment.

This is partly due to the misconception that allocating time for students to be active at school will hurt their academic performance. This view is not only disappointing but ill-informed. Read More