Physical Activity at School

RWJF Priority: Increase the time, intensity and duration of physical activity during the school day and out-of-school programs

Schools play a critical role in helping children lead active, healthy lives. By requiring active participation in daily physical education classes, providing activity breaks throughout the day, and supporting walking and bicycling to school, schools can increase students’ physical activity. After-school programs located in schools, parks and recreational centers also can develop innovative ways to help children be active.

The resources below, from RWJF grantees and partners, highlight recent efforts to examine and develop programs and policies that help children be active before, during and after the school day.

Childhood Obesity Policy Priorities

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Kids Get Moving with Playworks

During recess, students at schools participating in the Playworks program engaged more physical activity that was, on average, more intense.

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From the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids

Creating a Healthy Place for Kids in Trenton, NJ

"A long time coming." The New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids helped make Monument Elementary School in Trenton a healthier place for students by leading efforts to build a new playground and install a salad bar in the cafeteria.

Watch the video

From Active Living Research

Study: P.E. Could Mean 23 More Minutes of Physical Activity for Kids

Requiring daily physical education in school could help young people be active for 23 minutes per day, which is more than a third of the total amount of daily physical activity experts recommend for young people.

Read the study

From Active Living Research

Do Short Physical Activity Breaks in Classrooms Work?

Providing short physical activity breaks during the school day can increase physical activity in students, help improve on-task behavior, and improve some measures of health.

Read the brief

From the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Terence C. Reilly School No. 7: Healthy Schools Program Gold National Recognition Award Winner

Principal Jennifer Cedeno chalks up her students' attention spans—and their academic performance—to an innovative physical activity and nutrition program.

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From Active Living Research

Policies and Standards for Promoting Physical Activity in After-School Programs

After-school programs can contribute to children’s overall daily physical activity, but their potential impact is far from being realized. This brief examines offers recommendations for changing standards and policies to better promote physical activity in after-school programs.

Read the brief

From the Safe Routes to School National Program

Safe Routes to School: Helping Communities Save Lives and Dollars

By getting more children to walk and bicycle to school, Safe Routes to School initiatives can reduce traffic congestion around schools and increase children's physical activity levels.

Read the report

Health Policy Snapshot

Do Students Who Are More Active Do Better in School?

Physical activity is linked to cognitive and behavioral benefits for students, such as improved concentration, better school attendance, and fewer classroom disruptions.

Read the brief

More Research and Resources on Physical Activity at School

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Childhood Obesity Program Area

RWJF is committed to tackling one of the most urgent threats to the health of our children and families—childhood obesity. Our goal is to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015.

The State of Play

February 1, 2010 | Survey/Poll

RWJF commissioned a first-of-its-kind Gallup poll of 1,951 principals in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and Playworks, a Vulnerable Populations grantee.

Afterschool Program Participation, Youth Physical Fitness, and Overweight

March 1, 2013 | Journal Article

The children who most need fitness-focused afterschool programs may not be participating in them.

Padres Unidos Advocates for Recess Before Lunch

April 11, 2012 | Program Result Report

The Healthy Students, Healthy Minds project of Padres Unidos is working with Denver school board officials to implement a recess-before-lunch policy in all public schools, a schedule that gets kids to eat better and reduces discipline problems.

Communities Creating Healthy Environments: Improving Access to Healthy Foods and Safe Places in Communities of Color

April 11, 2012 | Program Result Report

Communities Creating Healthy Environments aims to curb childhood obesity in communities of color by using community organizing for social justice to advocate for policy changes color. Read this report on its progress.

Exercise Before Class Improves Georgia Students' Grades, Self-Esteem

November 22, 2011 | Story

Winning Strategies in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity.

Estimated Energy Expenditures for School-Based Policies and Active Living

February 1, 2013 | Journal Article

This study estimates the minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity various school and community policy changes could support among youth.

Reaching the Goal of 60 Minutes of Physical Activity for Children

February 1, 2013 | Issue Brief

National experts recommend that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, but many children do not. This brief describes school and community strategies that can help kids be active.

Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Competitive Beverage and Food Guidelines

October 1, 2012 | Journal Article

The food and beverages served in elementary school meal programs through the United States Department of Agriculture school meal program must meet certain federal nutrition standards. However, many schools also sell food through à la carte lines and ...

Do All Children Have Places to be Active?

May 1, 2012 | Report

Research shows that lower-income and racial and ethnic minority people tend to live in neighborhoods with fewer and poorer quality sidewalks, fewer parks and open spaces, and more crime, social disorder and traffic. These environmental and social fa ...

Supporting Physical Activity Outside of School Time

May 1, 2012 | Issue Brief

Regular physical activity promotes important health benefits, reduces risk for obesity, and is linked to enhanced academic performance. National recommendations call for children and adolescents to be active for 60 minutes a day. The U.S. Department ...