The initiative comes as the Australasian Society for Physical Activity (ASPA) ranked the country’s below-grade overall exercise rates at D-minus in its 2022 Australian Physical Activity Report Card.A national study by Deakin University revealed that girls were the worst affected by the shutdowns, with 15-17 year old boys three times more likely to get enough exercise each day than girls the same age. But all kids were 73 per cent less likely to meet pre-pandemic minimum exercise standards. Research fellow at Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition Dr Lauren Arundell said schools were now working to strike a balance between increased screen use at school and ensuring students are moving enough throughout the day.A 10 minute full-body standing Peaches Pilates workout you can do anywhere, with Bec Chidiac.“For kids, there’s not only benefits to their physical health, but there’s evidence that shows less time sitting, more time moving is good for concentration, it’s good for mental health, it’s good for academic outcomes,” Dr Arundell said.“When we’re talking about physical activity, it’s not necessarily exercise. It is about movement in all aspects. It can be walking or cycling to school. It can be heading to the park, or free play, which is so important for children’s physical activity levels,” she said. Both public and private schools are backing the push to give kids more exercise time. The state government earlier this year announced an initiative encouraging kids to make up their 60 minutes of daily exercise by completing 15 minutes of physical activity at a time as part of the $24.2 million Get Your Move On program.Education Minister James Merlino said the initiative helped schools boost their physical education programs.“We’re delivering the Positive Start program for schools across the state, supporting kids to get active and take advantage of everything our state has to offer with free camps, sporting workshops, cultural experiences and swimming lessons to make up for anything missed during the pandemic,” Mr Merlino said.Methodist Ladies College Head of athlete development Iain Beverley said hundreds of students at the Kew school now take part in yoga, pilates and spin classes as part of the school’s effort to drive up fitness levels with kids back at school full-time.“It is important for students to be actively involved and engaged in their own fitness journey. However, it is equally important for schools to help provide the tools for them to do so,” Mr Beverley said.“ It doesn’t matter who you are, what your fitness level is, what goals you have, or how good you are at sport. Anyone can give it a go,” he said. “It’s all about helping young women to remain active throughout adolescence and they need to enjoy physical activity for that to happen,” Mr Beverley said.
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