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.

A Poll About Children and Weight

February 25, 2013 | Survey/Poll

This poll provides new insights into the epidemic of childhood obesity and the challenges families face between school and sleep.

A Scientist Studies Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in Out-of-School Time Programs

December 20, 2012 | Story

More than 8 million children attend out-of-school time programs, which can play a role in addressing childhood obesity. Georgia S. Hall, PhD, studied how these programs address physical activity and healthy eating, and barriers to good practices.

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

February 23, 2009 | Program Result Report

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

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.

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

November 4, 2011 | Program Result Report

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.

Senate Bill 42

September 1, 2009 | Journal Article

Texas Senate Bill 42 (SB42), enacted in 2005, directed the state's middle schools to strengthen institutional responsibility for the health of their students. This study assessed whether a representative sample of middles schools were adhering to SB42.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Drafts Guidelines for Schools to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

June 1, 2007 | Program Result Report

The CDC conducted a review of the scientific literature and produced evidence-based guidelines for school health programs to promote healthy eating and physical activity to prevent obesity among children.

2003 Report to the Nation on how Schools are Responding to Childhood Obesity Epidemic

November 1, 2004 | Program Result Report

Pyramid Communications, a Seattle-based strategic public affairs organization, produced a report for RWJF on school-based physical activity and healthy eating programs to help curb the nation's childhood obesity epidemic.

Healthy Schools for Healthy Kids

January 1, 2003 | Report

In response to dramatic and increasing national trends of childhood obesity, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) retained Pyramid Communications to identify opportunities for increasing children's physical activity and healthy eating in school ...