What's New > Register Your School to Support Let’s Move in School
Let’s Move in School is an initiative of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). In support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation, the purpose of Let’s Move in School is to educate youth about the benefits of a physically active lifestyle and ensure that every school provides opportunities for quality physical education and physical activity.
The Let’s Move in School Web site (www.LetsMoveInSchool.org) provides tools to support quality, school-based physical education and physical activity programs, such as sources of funding, recognition for outstanding physical education teachers and programs and information on federal, state and local policy efforts. In addition, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE/AAHPERD) has produced a new brochure for parents, school administrators and policymakers called Active Kids and Academic Performance: The Positive Impact of School-Based Physical Education and Physical Activity.
Physical Activity During School
In addition to physical education class, students need opportunities to be physically active throughout the school day in order to meet the 60 minutes per day national recommendation. Children need a break from sitting behind their desks; these extra opportunities to be physically active have shown to increase a child’s academic achievements. Learn about the positive impact of school-based physical education and physical activity on academic performance at:
http://www.aahperd.org/letsmoveinschool/upload/NASPE-AcademicsBrochureFINAL.pdf
During school AAHPERD suggests:
Physical Activity Before and After School
Physical activity before and after school allow students to practice what they've learned in physical education class. It can also prepare their brains for learning and provide a safe and healthy environment for social interaction with their friends. Some options include:
Staff Involvement
High level support from school administrators is a key factor in implementing a CSPAP. Staff involvement in school-based physical activity provides two key benefits:
Family and Community Involvement
Support from parents and siblings, and even an entire community, can influence a child’s level of participation in physical activity. Keeping children and youth turned on to physical activity is also one of the biggest challenges facing parents. That is why AAHPERD urges parents to help children explore a wide variety of physical activities in their communities to determine what they like and then encourage them to participate in those activities on a regular basis. Families can support their child’s school CSPAP by:
To learn more about how you can help your school to create a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program, go to http://www.aahperd.org/letsmoveinschool/. The goal of Let’s Move in School, an initiative of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), is to help children and youth to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime.
Taken from http://www.aahperd.org/letsmoveinschool/tools/upload/LMIS-fall-template-release.doc