Active Students are Better Learners

Establishing healthy behaviors during childhood is easier and more effective than trying to change unhealthy behaviors during adulthood. Schools play a critical role in promoting health and helping children establish lifelong healthy behaviors. Research shows a link between health and academic success as well as other aspects of well-being. To have the most positive impact on health outcomes, schools, government agencies, community organizations, parents, and other community members must work together through a collaborative and comprehensive approach that utilizes the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) and Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) models.

What is a CSPAP?

A CSPAP is a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the nationally-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. 

Who Supports CSPAP?

Physical education and physical activity is one component of the WSCC model. Organizations like Active Schools, CDC, SHAPE America recommend implementation of a comprehensive school physical activity program. Colleges like the University of Northern Colorado offer courses and degree programs related to implementing CSPAP to improve the health and wellbeing of students in primary and secondary schools. Russ Carson, PhD, Research and Health & Wellness Advisor with PlayCore, authored a book on how to create and implement a CSPAP and hosts educational sessions and webinars to help communities understand the need for a comprehensive approach to increasing physical activity in schools. 

What Can I Do to Help?

Family and community engagement in school-based physical activity programs provide numerous benefits. When families are active together, they spend additional time together and experience health benefits. Parents, guardians, or other family members can support a CSPAP by participating in evening or weekend special events, or by serving as physical education or physical activity volunteers. Community involvement allows maximum use of school and community resources and creates a connection between school and community-based physical activity opportunities. Community organizations might provide programs before or after school or establish joint-use or shared-use agreements with schools.

Staff Involvement in the CSPAP and support for school employee wellness and leadership training contribute to the overall culture of physical activity at a school. School employee wellness programs improve staff health, increase physical activity levels, and are cost-effective. School staffs that are committed to good health practices are positive role models for students and may show increased support for student participation in physical activity. Teachers and other school staff members can integrate physical activity into classroom academic instruction and breaks, and support recess, intramurals, and other physical activity offerings.

Physical Education is an academic subject and serves as the foundation of a CSPAP. Physical education provides students with a planned sequential K-12 standards-based program of curricula and instruction designed to develop motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors for healthy active living, physical fitness, sportsmanship, self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence. The essential components of a physical education program include policies and environment, curriculum, appropriate instruction, and student assessment. The Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool  (PECAT) is a self-assessment and planning guide developed by the CDC. It is designed to help school districts and schools conduct clear, complete, and consistent analyses of physical education curricula, based upon national physical education standards.

Physical Activity During School includes physical activity in a variety of settings throughout the school day besides the requisite physical education instructional class. The main ways students can participate in physical activity during the school day are

• recess
• physical activity integrated into classroom lessons,
• physical activity breaks in and outside the classroom, and
• lunchtime club or intramural programs.

These opportunities should be offered to all grade levels K-12 and not exclude middle and high school youth, who also can benefit from engaging in physical activity throughout the school day.

Physical Activity Before/After School provides opportunities for all students, including those with special needs, to:

• practice what they have learned in physical education
• work toward the nationally recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity
• become more adequately prepared for learning
• engage in safe, social, and supervised activities
• identify activities they enjoy and might engage in long term

Before-and after-school physical activity programs offer students an opportunity to be physically active instead of waiting in a sedentary setting for the school day to begin or end, and might include a walking and biking to school program, physical activity clubs and intramural programs (e.g., programs that are voluntary, student-centered, and give equal opportunity for all students to participate), informal recreation or play on school grounds, physical activity in school-based childcare programs, integrating physical activity in homework during out of school hours, and interscholastic sports. Finally, before- and after-school physical activity programs can be coordinated with community-based organizations (e.g., YMCAs, community parks and recreation) and delivered in school settings, providing benefits to the students, families, and community members. 

How Can a Playground Be Part of a CSPAP?

Playgrounds can be an invaluable part of a CSPAP. It is a common space enjoyed by most students and an ideal place to encourage fun, physical activity before, during and after school. If your playground was designed to provide the six essential elements of play (climbing, spinning, sliding, swinging, balancing, brachiating (overhead climbing)) you have a great opportunity to use play as a form of physical activity.

PlayOn! is a curriculum developed by SHAPE America and PlayCore that utilizes 125 playful activities to help students in PreK-5th grade be more active on the playground. When used as part of a CSPAP, PlayOn! and your playground is effective components of this important framework for enhancing student health and wellness. 

Learn more about GameTime's commitment to active schools or contact a representative in your neighborhood.