The United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth at Capitol Hill was released on April 29. The report card evaluated the physical activity of the nation’s children.
Not surprisingly, the report card gave the physical activity of children a D-. Why? Because as the report showed – only 1 in 4 children ages 6-15 get the recommended 60 minutes of moderate physical activity every day.
“We hope the Report Card will galvanize researchers, health professionals, community members, and policy makers across the U.S. to improve our children’s physical activity opportunities, which will improve health, prevent disease and disability, and enhance quality of life,” said Peter Katzmarzyk, Ph.D., chairman of the 2014 Report Card Research Advisory Committee.
Children need to exercise daily and that can’t be done when schools are taking out P.E. and increasing chair time for other classes.
Some schools are taking action by including an Exergame Active Lab in their schools to improve academics, social development, health and fitness.
The interactive wellness room at Edison Elementary in Appleton, WI looks beyond physical fitness as students engage both body and mind.
“It is a place where exercise is done as much for a student’s academic and social well-being as it is for their physical benefit,” said physical education teacher Chuck Heurkens said.
“We’re looking at improving behaviors, increasing academic scores and including a family component,” he said. “As far as I know, this program is not replicated anywhere in the U.S. That’s pretty humbling.”
To view the Report Card results, click here.
