Kids Don't Get Recess Plus Gym in School, Study Says (ContributorNetwork)

School-age kids aren't getting enough exercise in school, says a study by the University of Illinois at Chicago. Childhood obesity is a top parenting health worry, says a University of Michigan study. Here are facts about exercise at school.

* Minimal standards for recess and physical education set by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education call for 150 minutes per week of gym and 20 minutes per day of recess. Middle school and high school students need 225 minutes. Ideally, children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of exercise daily and avoid long periods of sedentary activities.

* The University of Chicago study surveyed 1,761 schools in 47 states from 2007 to 2009. Schools that were mandated or encouraged to provide physical education or recess tended to do so. About 70 percent of schools provided at least 20 minutes of recess daily; 17.9 percent offered 150 minutes per week. Less than 50 percent of states required that amount and 17 percent had mandatory recess laws, the study showed. Schools with a high population of low-income parents whose kids received free and reduced lunch were less likely to provide recess. Schools with ethnic and racially mixed student populations also tended to skip the recommended recess times.

* NASPE says parents should visit schools to see what is offered. Physical education refers to organized, teacher-led classes. Physical activity generally refers to unstructured physical play time.

* Recess and structured physical education are important for healthy development, NASPE says. Gym class develops a child's coordination, strength and physical skills. PE helps children learn to work as a team. Recess provides fresh air, active play and relaxation. Children who miss recess tend not to do as well in school.

Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes about parenting from 23 years raising four children and 25 years teaching K-8, special needs, adult education and home-school.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/parenting/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111206/sc_ac/10615375_kids_dont_get_recess_plus_gym_in_school_study_says

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