Promoting Youth Physical Activity in the Classroom Through a Comprehensive Walking Program

According to current guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, youth should be active for at least 60 min each day. This study investigated the effects of a 6‐week in‐school walking program. The outcomes of interest were the weekly and daily steps that students in Grades 4, 5...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Family and consumer sciences research journal 2010-12, Vol.39 (2), p.161-172
Main Authors: Cirignano, Sherri M., Du, Lidan, Morgan, Kathleen T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Children
Children & youth
Classroom discussion
Grade 4
Health Care Services
Health education
Health promotion
Instructional Effectiveness
Parents
pedometer
Physical Activities
physical activity breaks
Physical Fitness
Students
Teachers
Walking
walking program
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Summary:According to current guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, youth should be active for at least 60 min each day. This study investigated the effects of a 6‐week in‐school walking program. The outcomes of interest were the weekly and daily steps that students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 walked as recorded on pedometers. Evaluations were sent to parents before and after the walking program and exit interviews were provided to students and teachers to obtain their perceptions on program effectiveness. Average daily and weekly steps showed an overall upward trend for all students. The largest increase in steps was found among the fourth graders. Six months after the intervention, almost 40% of parents who completed the postevaluation reported that their child continued to use the pedometer. Almost 90% of parents who completed the postevaluation reported that they felt the program was beneficial in promoting physical activity in their child.
ISSN:1077-727X
1552-3934
DOI:10.1111/j.1552-3934.2010.02054.x