Article Analysis: "What Ever Happened to Kick the Can? Wellness in School and Community"

          Children are not playing outdoors as much as they did in the past.  Various distractions and indoor options are more interesting to children than enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.  Today’s generation would rather play on gaming devices and technology than run around in nature.  The results of students preferring to stay indoors are negative and dangerous.  Obesity has become a prevalent consequence to children who are neglecting outdoor play.  Wellness needs to be addressed in the school setting, and physical activities need to be in place to ensure that students will have healthy future lifestyles.
          In 2004, the responsibly of wellness began to move from the home to the school.  Schools began to bear the burden of providing food and wellness education to all students.  The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-265) required all individual schools and school districts to provide the National School Lunch and/or Breakfast programs to encourage local wellness.  Wellness seminars and classes are provided for students to encourage them as they make healthy food choices and create physical exercise routines. 
          The article provided several simple ways to implement physical activities which will attract and involve all students.  A walking club will motivate students to walk around a soccer field or inside a gym for about 15 minutes every school day.  Intramural games which use various sports and activities encourage team play while physically being active.  Basketball, soccer, flag football, volleyball, and dodgeball are events that can attract students.  Providing pedometers to students and setting an appropriate step goal will motivate students to move throughout the school day.  PE teachers can document the students’ steps and provide prizes to those who show diligence and endurance.  Fitness day focuses on student strength and cardio.  Having track and field events will provoke students to be physically prepared for the fitness day.  Healthy competition can be used as a tool to enhance physical movement among students.
          Making changes in the school setting can encourage wellness.  Removing vending machines which contain unhealthy food choices and replacing them with healthy food will teach students which foods are needed and vital for healthy living.  School cafeterias and staff must carefully plan and serve meals which contain foods that are beneficial.  Teachers need to model smart eating habits and physical activity.  Playing on the playground with the children or participating in the student intramural games are ways to model physical wellness.  Providing physical education to all students will encourage more body movement and active; the student will be healthier.  Erfle and Gamble (2015) conducted a study which examined the results of a 30-minute daily PE class.  The results showed that daily PE class resulted in a lower body mass index (BMI) percentage of -1.2%.    
          Students are never too young to learn about and implement healthy choices and wellness.  In elementary science class, the food pyramid and various food portions need to be discussed and modeled.  When the class has a party, the teacher should have some parents bring in fruit and veggies to encourage healthy eating habits.  Teachers should encourage students to run around and play with classmates during recess rather than just sit and watch.  Having a mini workout session with pushups, sit-ups, crunches, and planks occasionally in the classroom will inspire the students to continue to do them at home.  Participating in the Presidential Fitness Test or in another physical test will enhance the students’ wellness.  Young-Whiting and Miller (2016) conducted a study which examined the outcome of students who participated in a physical test.  The results showed that those who participated in the test have an increase of muscle mass and cardio fitness.   Taking “brain breaks” and walking around the school property will provide an example of wellness.

References

Burton, T. (2014). What ever happened to kick the can?  Wellness in school and 

          community. In Curriculum Leadership, 218-221.  

Erfle, S. E., & Gamble, A. (2014). Effects of daily physical education on physical 

          fitness and weight status in middle school adolescents. Journal of School Health, 

          85 (1), 27-35. 

Young-Whiting, C. Y., & Miller, A. P. (2016). Examining the impact of a physical 

          activity intervention program.  The International Journal of Health, Wellness, and 

          Society, 6 (2), 25-38.