Promoting Physical Activity in Middle Childhood (ages 5-10) Strategies for the Family, School, and Community Eugene C. Fitzhugh, PhD Dept. of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies The University of Tennessee, Presentation Objectives 1. Identify the benefits of regular physical activity in middle childhood. 2. Describe the key physical activity guidelines for children in middle childhood. 3. Identify the messages that you can convey to parents who want to help their children be more physically active. 4. Identify strategies with the greatest potential for promoting physical activity in middle childhood. Our Middle Childhood Revisited H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Corbis 1
Our Physical Development Each year, we slowly and steadily gained weight ( 7 pounds) while getting taller (2.5 inches) Our percent body fat increased (preparing for our adolescent growth spurt) Physically, for the most part, we were all equals height, weight, strength, endurance, & motor skill development We started to acquire & refine our fundamental motor skills in this sequence Running galloping jumping skipping throwing catching striking kicking We then developed our transitional motor skills (e.g. jump rope) Finally, we started to enjoy more complex motor skills (e.g. playing basketball) Why is Physical Activity Important During Middle Childhood? Promotes health and fitness Builds healthy bones and muscles 1 Reduces the risk of developing obesity and chronic diseases (type 2 diabetes and heart disease) which develop early in life 1 Reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression 1 Can positively affect concentration, memory, and classroom behavior 2 Can improve standardized test scores 3 1. HHS. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report;2008 2. J Pediatr 2005;146(6):732 7. 3. Res Q Exerc Sport 1999;70(2):127 34. Barriers to Children Being Physically Active 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 2
How Much Physical Activity Do Children Need? Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity daily. Aerobic Activities Most should be either moderate- or vigorous- intensity aerobic physical activity. Including at least 3 days per week of vigorous-intensity physical activity. Muscle-strengthening Activities 3 days of the week, as part of the 60 or more minutes. Bone-strengthening Activities 3 days of the week, as part of the 60 or more minutes. Activities should be age-appropriate, enjoyable, and offer variety. What are Aerobic Activities? Activities that keep the child moving enough to increase their heart rate while making them breathe harder There are two intensities of aerobic activity: Moderate-intensity (faster & harder than normal) Vigorous-intensity (much faster & harder than normal) Types of Moderate- and Vigorous- Intensity Aerobic Activities Type of Physical Activity Children Age Group Adolescents Moderateintensity 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 Vigorousintensity aerobic Active games involving running and chasing, such as tag Bicycle riding Jumping rope Martial arts, such as karate Running Sports such as soccer, ice or field 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, ice or field hockey, basketball, swimming, tennis Vigorous dancing, cross-country skiing 3
What are Muscle-Strengthening Activities? Activities that make muscles do more work than the 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 Type of Physical Activity Children Age Group Adolescents Muscle-strengthening 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 as tug-of-war Push-ups and pull-ups Resistance exercises with exercise bands, weight machines, handheld 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 These activities are especially important for young people because the greatest gain in bone mass occur during the years just before and during puberty 4
Types of Bone-strengthening Activities Type of Physical Activity Children Age Group Adolescents Bone-strengthening 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 Advising Families on How to Promote Physical Activity among their Children Five Messages Targeting Families Set a Positive Example Lead an active lifestyle yourself Make family time an opportunity for physical activity Take a walk together after dinner Do housework or yard work together Walk 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 5
FitzhughE_Middle Childhood Physical Limit Screen Time The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends less than 2 hours of media time per day Television Computer Movies and DVDs Video games Turn off the television during mealtimes Turn commercial breaks into activity breaks BAM! (www.bam.gov) 17 Encourage Physical Activity Expose children to a variety of physical activities Be positive about the physical activities in which your child decides to participate Encourage children to talk about their experience with physical activity Help your child get to and from practices and events Give your child toys that promote physical activity 6
Encourage Children to Be Active With Friends Play outside instead of watching television or playing video games Make special events physical activity events Activity-based birthday parties Other group functions Encourage your child to join a team or try a new physical activity with a friend Partner With Your Child s School Learn what physical activities are offered at your child s school Talk to the principal or write a letter to the district superintendent if you think that there should be more physical education at your child s school Encourage the school to implement a comprehensive physical activity program Promoting Physical Activity in Middle Childhood What Role can You Play? 7
What Role Can You Play in Promoting Physical Activity? Be a role model for physical activity Your children/grandchildren Parents of children Be an advocate for physical activity Neighborhood School Community Position your agency to play an active role in promoting physical activity among children Provide resources Technical assistance 22 Strategies to Promote Physical Activity Among Children School Setting Mandating daily physical education (150 minutes per week) Adopting standardized physical education curriculum Daily recess period Activity breaks throughout the day Walk- and bike-to-school programs Before- and after-school programs Community Setting Access to Parks 23 #1: Require Daily Physical Education (150 minutes per week) Opportunity to learn Adequate time, equipment, and facilities Highly qualified, certified, or licensed teachers Meaningful content Written standards-based curriculum Sequential, developmentally appropriate learning activities for grades K 12 Appropriate instruction Full inclusion of all students Fun & enjoyable 23 minutes MVPA per day (vs. schools with no PE) Well-designed lessons that facilitate learning (50% of time at MVPA) Sufficient practice opportunities for class activities Student assessment 1. National Association for Sports and Physical Education. Moving into the Future: National Standards for Physical Education, 2 nd ed; 2004. 8
#2: Physical Activity Breaks Independent of physical education and recess Can enhance positive classroom behavior of students Incorporates activity in the classroom as part of planned lessons Physical Activity Break Ideas: Ask students to identify and act out action words from a story through physical activity or take a walk outside as part of a science class 19 minutes MVPA per day www.take10.net http://www.emc.cmich.edu/brainbreaks/ #3: Active Commuting to School Increases physical activity levels 1 3 Reduces the number of cars and decreases traffic near schools Promotes partnerships among students, parents and community organizations and members 1. Am J Prev Med 2005;29(3):179 84. 2. BMJ 2005;331(7524)1061 2. 3. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2005;37(12):2062 9. Prevalence of Active Commuting to or from School 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 walk/bike any distance walk/bike <1 mile walk/bike <2 miles 1969 2001 Source: Am J Prev Med 2007;32(6):509 16. 9
Walk and Bicycle to School Programs Safe Routes to Schools (http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/) Walking School Bus (http://www.walkingschoolbus.org/) KidsWalk (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/kidswalk/index.htm) 17 minutes MVPA per day International Walk to School Day (10/5/11) (http://www.walktoschool.org/) #4: After-School Programs Ideal setting for promoting healthy lifestyles Structure, location, and resources have much more flexibility than normal academic day. Occur during a time of day when children are likely to be sedentary if not given sedentary options 10 minutes MVPA per day Offer a supportive, safe environment in which children can feel comfortable trying new activities Child Care Bureau. Promoting Physical Activity and Health Nutrition in Afterschool Settings: Strategies for Program Leaders and Policy Makers;2006. #5: Adopt a Evidence-Based Physical Education Curriculum Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) Promotes environmental & behavior change Curriculum On-side teacher training Technical assistance Content-matched equipment Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) High-energy, non-elimination activities Also focuses on nutrition & tobacco Targets activities in classroom, cafeteria, and home settings 7 minutes MVPA per day (Compared to standard curriculum) http://www.sparkpe.org/ http://www.catchinfo.org/index.asp 10
#6: Recess Opportunity to participate in free-time physical activity and practice skills learned in physical education classes Enhances cooperation and negotiation skills Improves attentiveness, concentration, and time-on-task in the classroom 6 minutes MVPA per day Policy Recommendation: Schools should provide at least 20 minutes of recess per day, in addition to physical education classes 1 1. National Association for Sport and Physical Education. Recess in Elementary Schools;2006. #7: Parks: Proximity & Access Children who live close to parkland & recreational programs are found to have much lower BMI at 18 years of age Southern CA Children s Health Study 1 10-year longitudinal study ½ of children had no recreational programs within 5 city blocks Policy Recommendations 2 Convert vacant spaces to parks Create or improve connectors between parks & residential areas Improve built environment ( e.g. traffic calming, crossings) 6 minutes MVPA per day 1. Health & Place; 2010; 16(3):137-157 2. Active Living Research, Policy Brief (July 2011) Parks & Recreation Program Help to Reduce Childhood Obesity. Potential Increases in MVPA Physical Activity School Setting Require daily physical education 23 minutes Activity breaks school day 19 minutes Walk- and bike-to-school programs 17 minutes Before- and after-school programs 10 minutes Adopting evidence-based PE curriculum 7 minutes Daily recess period 6 minutes Community Setting Parks (Proximity & Access) 6 minutes 33 11
Summary Families, Schools, & Communities can increase physical activity in middle childhood Magnitude of increase & coverage is dependent upon: Resources Commitment of the community Barriers that are encountered Increasing physical activity will focus on policy at some level School or school district policies City Planning policies & codes Local Government 34 Acknowledgements Work within this presentation was commissioned by the Active Living Research arm of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. David Bassett, Jr., PhD (Project Director) Kinesiology Graduate Students Dana Wolff Ginny Frederick Whitney Welch Aaron Stout 35 12