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

Featured

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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YMCA's Pioneering Healthier Communities

November 5, 2012 | Program Result

A Progress Report: Combating childhood obesity through local and state policy change.

Padres Unidos Advocates for Recess Before Lunch

April 11, 2012 | Program Result

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

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.

Targeting Overweight Kids and Their Parents in Vineland, N.J.

November 4, 2011 | Program Result

South Jersey Healthcare implemented Success Through Exercise, Physical Fitness and Sharing Information for Kids, a 12-week course that helps overweight children and their parents in low-income and minority communities combat obesity.

The Texas Youth Fitness Study

March 24, 2011 | Program Result

Researchers at the Cooper Institute in Dallas report there are small but consistently positive associations between fitness and academic achievement.

Research Finds Lack of Funding and Competing Priorities Affect Schools' Ability to Offer Healthy Food and Fitness to Students

October 1, 2009 | Program Result

Staff at the California School Boards Association and California Project LEAN supported efforts by key stakeholders nationwide to develop, implement and evaluate school wellness policies.

Active After School: Michigan's After-School Partnership Creates a Pilot Program

February 23, 2009 | Program Result

In 2004, Michigan established the Michigan After-School Partnership, a collaborative of public and private agencies aimed at promoting quality after-school programs.

The Boston Schoolyard Initiative: A Study of Its Schoolyard Renovations

October 3, 2008 | Program Result

Researchers in the Boston University Department of Environmental Health conducted a case study of the Boston Schoolyard Initiative, a project that provides funds and technical support to community groups dedicated to renovating schoolyards in Boston.

Mississippi Healthy Summit Leads to Increased Physical Activity Requirements in Schools

July 14, 2008 | Program Result

The state of Mississippi convened the Healthy Mississippi Summit, June 15, 2006, in Jackson, Miss., to focus attention on the primary causes of chronic diseases in Mississippi and to promote a statewide approach to promoting healthy lifestyles.

New York Athletic Organization Creates Teachers' Kit to Get Kids Running

August 1, 2007 | Program Result

In 2006, staff of the New York Road Runners Foundation created two startup kits to enable teachers to start running programs in elementary and middle schools.