Improving Student Health Behaviors: Engagement in

Physical Activity

Dr. Lisa A PlebanDepartment of Physical EducationCastleton College

Presentation Objectives

• Describe the key physical activity guidelines for children and adolescents

• Describe the role of schools, in partnership with families and communities, in promoting physical activity among children and adolescents through use of the CSPAP

• Identify at least one action step to take to apply the CSPAP development process in your locality

Why?

Students who are physically active…

Benefit physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Can do better in school.

Schools are a great vehicle to deliver wellness information!

Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program

(CSPAP)

OMG Assault of the Acronyms!OMG Assault of the Acronyms!

• NPAP= National Physical Activity Plan

• PYFP =Presidential Youth Fitness Program

• CSPAP = Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program

• LMAS=Let’s Move, Active Schools

• PAL= Physical Activity Leader

• SHAPE-A = Society of Health and Physical Educators - America

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How Much Physical Activity Do Youth Need?

• Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity daily.

Aerobic Activities: Most of the 60 or more minutes per day should be either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Include vigorous-intensity physical activity at least 3 days per week.

Muscle-strengthening Activities: Include muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week, as part of the 60 or more minutes.

Bone-strengthening Activities: Include bone-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week, as part of the 60 or more minutes.

• Activities should be age-appropriate, enjoyable, and offer variety.

Types of Moderate- and Vigorous- Intensity Aerobic Activities

Type ofPhysical Activity

Age Group

Children Adolescents

Moderate-intensity aerobic

• Active recreation, such as hiking, skateboarding, rollerblading

• Bicycle riding• Brisk walking

• Active recreation, such as canoeing, hiking, skateboarding, rollerblading

• Brisk walking• Bicycle riding (stationary or road bike)• Housework and yard work, such as

sweeping or pushing a lawn mower• Games that require catching and

throwing, such as baseball and softball

Vigorous-intensity aerobic

• Active games involving running and chasing, such as tag

• Bicycle riding• Jumping rope• Martial arts, such as karate• Running• Sports such as soccer, hockey,

basketball, swimming, tennis• Cross-country skiing

• Active games involving running and chasing, such as flag football

• Bicycle riding• Jumping rope• Martial arts, such as karate• Running• Sports such as soccer, hockey,

basketball, swimming, tennis• Vigorous dancing, cross-country

skiing

What are Muscle-Strengthening Activities?

• Activities that make muscles do more work than usual activities of daily life

• Activities that can be part of unstructured play Climbing trees Playing tug-of-war

• Activities that can be structured Push-ups, pull-ups Working with resistance

bands Lifting weights

Types of Muscle-Strengthening Activities

Age Group

Children Adolescents

• Games such as tug-of-war

• Modified push-ups (with knees on the floor)

• Resistance exercises using body weight or resistance bands

• Rope or tree climbing

• Sit-ups (curl-ups or crunches)

• Swinging on playground equipment/bars

• Games such astug-of-war

• Push-ups and pull-ups

• Resistance exercises with exercise bands, weight machines, hand-held weights

• Climbing wall

• Sit-ups (curl-ups or crunches)

What Are Bone-Strengthening Activities?

• Activities that produce a force on the bones that promotes bone growth and strength, such as jumping

• Activities that are especially important for young people because the greatest gain in bone mass occur during the years just before and during puberty

Types of Bone-strengthening Activities

Age Group

Children Adolescents

• Games such as hopscotch

• Hopping, skipping, jumping

• Jumping rope

• Running

• Sports such as gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, tennis

• Hopping, skipping, jumping

• Jumping rope

• Running

• Sports such as gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, tennis

“Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School”

• http://iom.edu/reports/2013/Educating-the-Student-Body-Taking-Physical-Activity-and-Physical-Education-to-School/video.aspx

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Less than ½ of half of youth meet the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommendation of at least 60 minutes of daily vigorous to moderate-intensity physical activity.

The Reality

• Recommended: At least 60 minutes every day

• PE class time might not be enough

Barriers to Meeting the Guidelines

• Personal Attitude Belief in ability to be

physically active

• Social Influence of their peers Parental support

• Environmental Safe locations to be active Access to equipment Financial costs of physical

activities Time

Comprehensive School Physical Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs Activity Programs

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CDC Guidelines

School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

Let's Move Active Schools

Physical Education

Physical Activity During School

Physical Activity Before and After school

Staff Involvement

Family and Community Engagement

SHAPE-A Let’s Move Active Schools

• Quality physical education

• Daily recess period/drop in activities

• Activity breaks throughout the day

• Intramural sports

• Interscholastic sports

• Walk- and bike-to-school programs

• Staff wellness and involvement

• Family and community participation

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Institute of MedicineInstitute of Medicine

• Taking a Whole School Approach • Consider physical activity in all school-related policy

decisions • Designate physical education as a core subject • Monitor physical education and opportunities for physical

activity in school • Provide preservice training and professional development

for teachers• Ensure equity in access to physical activity and physical

education

• http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2013/Educating-the-Student-Body/EducatingTheStudentBody_Insert.pdf

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Physical Education: The Foundation of CSPAP

Quality physical education provides:• Opportunity to learn

• Meaningful content

• Appropriate instruction

• Enjoyable experience for all students

• Meets the needs and interests of all students

• Keeps students active for most of class time

1. National Association for Sports and Physical Education. Moving into the Future: National Standards for Physical Education, 2nd ed;2004.

Policy Recommendation: Schools should require daily physical education for students in kindergarten through grade 121

• Elementary school = 150 minutes per week

• Secondary schools= 225 minutes per week

Vermont QES: Physical EducationVermont QES: Physical Education

• Each school shall provide students in grades K-8 with at least two physical education classes per week. Each school shall provide students in grades 9-12 with one and one half years of physical education or the equivalent thereof.

• Each school shall offer options for students in grades K-12 participate in at least 30 minutes of physical activity within or outside of the school day.

• Physical activity may include recess and movement built into the curriculum, but does not replace physical education classes.

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Physical Activity During SchoolPhysical Activity During School

• This includes classroom activity and recess

• Classroom Activity Even 5-10 minutes in duration contributes to cognitive

outcomes (Castelli et al. 2007)

Can be PreK-12

• Recess

Minimum 20 minutes per day

Activity zones, active supervision, equipment, multiple approaches

“Drop-in” physical activity in secondary schools

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Recess

• Opportunity to participate in free-time physical activity and practice skills learned in physical education classes

• Research shows enhanced cooperation and negotiation skills

• Improves attentiveness, concentration, and time-on-task in the classroom

Policy Recommendation: Schools should provide at least 20 minutes of recess per day, in addition to physical education classes1National Association for Sport and Physical Education. Recess in Elementary Schools; 2006.

We have to inform other teachers, students, parents and administrators about the

benefits of recess!

Please Share!Please Share!

• How is your school promoting active recess or physical activity “drop-in” time during the school day?

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Physical Activity Before Physical Activity Before and After Schooland After School

• School or community sponsored activities, clubs, and programs

• Active commuting to school

• Physical activity clubs

• Intramurals (voluntary, student-centered, and open to all students)

• Joint use agreements with community centers & buildings

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Intramural Sports

• Can be offered before, during, and after school

• Provide students with a choice in activities

• Offer every student an equal opportunity to participate regardless of ability level

• Incorporate lifetime physical activities like walking, running, hiking, snowshoeing, tennis, dancing, and bicycling

Interscholastic Sports

• Help establish cooperative and competitive skills1

• Help students learn sport-specific and performance-based skills

• May be related to higher levels of overall physical activity2

• Associated with improved mental health and reduction in some risky health behaviors3-4

1. National Association for Sports and Physical Education. Eight Domains of Coaching Competencies;2006. 2. Pediatr Exerc Sci 1998;10:378–86.3. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2000;154:904–11.4. The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Research Digest 1997;2:1–12.

Walk- and Bicycle-to-School Programs

• Resources:

VT Safe Routes to Schools

Vermont Walk and Roll to School Days

Vermont Winter Walk Day

Activity Recommendation: Schools should participate in and support ongoing walk and bike to school programs.

2015 Vermont School Events2015 Vermont School Events

May 6, 2015: Vermont Walk and Roll To School Day and Intergenerational Walk Mark your calendars for Vermont's third annual Walk and Roll to School Day!! VT SRTS, VTAHPERD and AARP strive to include walkers of all ages! Please help us keep up with all of the exciting activities across the state and gain access to incentive items by registering your school's event in the spring. To view a list of Senior Centers in your area click here. 

May 2015: National Bike School DayThe event builds on the popularity of Walk to School Day, which is celebrated across the country – and the world – each October. Many communities and schools have been holding spring walk and bicycle to school events for years. National Bike to School Day provides an opportunity for schools across the country to join together to celebrate and to build off of the energy of National Bike Month.

May 2015: Way to Go! Week The Vermont Safe Routes to School Resource Center partnered with Way to Go! Vermont to encourage more schools than ever to participate in the spring Way to Go! Commuter Challenge. Get your clean commute on by encouraging your school staff and students to walk, bike, bus or carpool to school. To view the 2014 results click here. 

October 2015: International Walk to School DayInternational Walk to School Day is a global event where communities from over 40 countries walk and bike to school on a single day. Join families, schools and communities around the globe as they walk and bicycle to school in celebration of Walk to School Day every October. Learn more about the day, who is participating in your area, and register for this year's event at www.walkbiketoschool.org.

Vermont is 2nd in the country for participation in this event! Sixty-four schools across Vermont participated in International Walk to School Day in 2014!!

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Staff InvolvementStaff Involvement

• Incorporate staff into PA programs

• Tailor programming to met staff requests

• Showcase possible activities during staff meetings / PA breaks during staff meetings

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Please Share!Please Share!

What before and after school activities has your school promoted successfully?

How have you gotten other staff members to support these programs?

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Family and Community Family and Community EngagementEngagement

• Social support is critical in youth physical activity choices

• Parent/guardian-led events

• Family events

• Youth sports

• Volunteers (retirees, older students / service learning)

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Family Engagement

• Can your school promote the following ideas?

• Make family time an opportunity forphysical activity

Walking together after dinner

Doing housework or yard work together

Walking the dog together

Make use of low- or no-cost resources Public parks Community fields and courts Recreation areas

• Replace inactivity with activity whenever possible

Example: walk or bike to school instead of riding in a car

Limit “Screen Time”

• The American Academy ofPediatrics recommendsless than 2 hours ofmedia time per day. Television Computer Movies/DVDs Video games

• Turn commercial breaks intoactivity breaks

• Turn off the television during mealtimes

• Do not use screen time as a reward or punishment

Encourage Physical Activity at Home

• Encourage children to talk about their experience with physical activity

• Assist parents in getting their child to and from practices and events

• Host a town-wide “toy swap” with items that promote physical activity

• Teach children to try a new physical activity with a friend or family member.

• Assign homework where the child has to teach a family member a new game

Please Share with OthersPlease Share with Others

• Successful ideas for overcoming physical activity barriers

• Successful ideas for encouraging “family-wide” physical activity in your community

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Coordination is the KeyCoordination is the Key

• CSPAP is a holistic approach to school physical activity

• Determine how each component complements the others

• Communicate!!!

• Determine and engage your key stakeholders

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Activity: Visit the PostersActivity: Visit the Posters

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Can you identify three ideas that you can incorporate into your work?

Did you see three ideas you never thought of?

that

CSPAP GuideCSPAP Guide

• Purpose: to enable physical educators and other wellness leaders to develop, implement, and evaluate a CSPAP

• Components

Brief introduction

Step-by-step process

Tools and templates http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/

physicalactivity/cspap.htm

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Notes and links are online at http://www.vtahperd.org/conference_notes.php

Steps to develop, implement, and Steps to develop, implement, and evaluate a CSPAPevaluate a CSPAP

Step One: Establish a team or committee and designate a Physical Activity Leader.

Step Two: Conduct an assessment of existing physical activity opportunities.

Step Three: Create a vision statement, goals, and objectives for your CSPAP.

Step Four: Identify the outcomes or specific changes that will be direct results of program implementation.

Step Five: Identify and plan the activities for your CSPAP.

Step Six: Implement your CSPAP.

Step Seven: Evaluate your CSPAP

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Activity: Identify StakeholdersActivity: Identify Stakeholders

• Who in your school community might want to participate on a PA committee?

PTA, interested community residents, teachers, alumni

• Who are the stakeholders?

Superintendent’s office (professional development, allocate resources), healthcare providers, local businesses, colleges, local media

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Conduct an assessment of existing Conduct an assessment of existing physical activity opportunitiesphysical activity opportunities

• The School Health Index (SHI): Self-Assessment & Planning Guide (www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/shi/index.htm) is an assessment and planning tool that can be used to examine current physical activity opportunities and the environmental supports for activity in your school.

• The SHI will enable the CSPAP committee to establish a baseline and plan for incremental improvements over time.

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Developing Goals and Objectives Developing Goals and Objectives of the CSPAPof the CSPAP

• A goal is a broad statement of purpose that describes the long-term (e.g., 3 or more years) result or impact of your CSPAP.

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Discussing ImplementationDiscussing Implementation

• What types of activities can be implemented to meet the goal and objectives set for YOUR SCHOOL ?

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Activity: Develop Your Activity: Develop Your “Stairwell” Speech“Stairwell” Speech

• Who do you want to target?

• Does your message “hit the target?”

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Identify OutcomesIdentify Outcomes

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In closing…In closing…

• There is no one stop shop fix for physical activity in schools.

• Physical activity programs rely on teacher collaboration

• Administrative support, Employee wellness programs

• 3rd party support- Youth sports, before and after school programs, grants

• Parental involvement

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Thank you!Thank you!

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Notes and links are online at http://www.vtahperd.org/conference_notes.php