It’s no secret that children spend a lot of time sitting in school. Whether it’s during class, at lunch, or during recess, the majority of their day is spent sitting in a desk or chair. However, studies have shown that taking exercise breaks during the school day can have a significant impact on children’s physical health, mental well-being, and academic performance. Here are some reasons why exercise breaks at school are important:

1. Improves Concentration and Focus

Research has found that taking short exercise breaks during the school day can help improve children’s concentration and focus. This is because exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which helps with cognitive function and memory retention. By taking a break to move around and get their blood pumping, children can come back to their studies feeling more alert and focused.

2. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

School can be a stressful environment for children, and taking regular exercise breaks can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health, and can help children feel calmer and more relaxed. Additionally, exercise releases endorphins, which are feel-good hormones that can help boost mood and reduce stress levels.

3. Promotes Physical Health

Taking regular exercise breaks at school can help promote physical health and reduce the risk of obesity and other chronic health conditions. Physical activity helps build strong bones and muscles, improves cardiovascular health, and helps children maintain a healthy weight. By encouraging children to take short exercise breaks throughout the day, schools can help promote healthy habits and reduce the risk of long-term health problems.

4. Fosters Social Interaction

Exercise breaks can also provide an opportunity for children to socialize and interact with their peers in a positive, active environment. This can help build social skills, teamwork, and cooperation. Additionally, exercise breaks can be a fun and engaging way for children to break up the monotony of the school day.

5. Improves Academic Performance

Studies have shown that taking exercise breaks during the school day can have a positive impact on academic performance. By improving concentration, reducing stress, and promoting overall physical health, exercise breaks can help children perform better academically. Additionally, exercise can help stimulate creativity and problem-solving skills, which can be beneficial in subjects like math and science.

In conclusion, taking exercise breaks during the school day can have a significant impact on children’s physical and mental well-being, as well as their academic performance. By encouraging regular physical activity throughout the day, schools can help promote healthy habits and provide a more engaging, stimulating learning environment for children. Visit our website www.NetflexKids.com for 1000’s of Exercise Break videos and activities for every child.

Nebula is a portable projector and speaker system that I believe is a revolutionary product in PE and especially APE. It is affordable, durable and very functional and can be used for a variety of things; click here to view video of how I used the nebula in my small group this year.

Click here to view product in Amazon

I will be adding videos to Easy PE TV below to be used specifically with this projector.

Click picture to open YouTube playlist

The preschool teachers at my school are amazing, the work they do with these young minds to get them prepared for school is sensational. However, when it comes to motor group, it is hard to know what to do when you don’t have a PE background. Motor group often just looks like free time, and as an Adapted PE teacher when I come and screen the kids to see if they will need adapted PE services when entering Kindergarten, it often becomes overwhelming to decipher what they can and can’t do. Not many 4 or 5 years-olds gallop by choice, and can they follow a PE routine? It’s hard to tell.

Ms. Sanela, came to me and asked if her preschool  class could join in on one of our small group classes one day, they came and they were absolutely awesome, they participated in the routine with enthusiasm and were even models for skills. What I realized is children thrive on structure, and how to behave in a PE class is something we could be teaching these kids for in preschool, so when they get to Kindergarten they are ready raring to go and become leaders and to teach the new kids how to behave and to perform skills in PE.

I have already curated a playlist for my small group A.P.E. class , which is a rigorous 12 minutes of exercise that has me sweating when I participate. So I decided to make another for preschool motor groups, this playlist is a collection of 6 locomotor movements to be performed around cones around the gym, and 7 static exercises all by the PE Chef, with transitions and schedule provided by myself. The playlist comes equipped with instructions for setup, preschool teachers would just need to organize with the PE teacher to have use of a projector during their motor group time. The playlist takes between 8-9 minutes to complete once started, the playlist will work on locomotor movements, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, as well as some basic language arts and mathematics. Finally, the group play time could be free choice or an organized activity based on teacher preferences.

Teachers can also make their own playlists on YouTube by clicking the Save button (near  the thumbs up and down) creating a new playlist and adding whatever videos they like to it.

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Would love to hear peoples thoughts on this, if you can leave a comment below or tweet me at @DIGITtheAPE

Download PDF

Squash the Bug is an Adapted PE visual to be used in basketball units. The download is a set of 12 poly spots that can be used as station markers, or as a visual so students know where to dribble, shoot or bounce pass a ball. I got the idea for this from a colleague Alexia F., but credit must also go to our mentor Noel F.

Directions

Step 1- Download PDF

Step 2- Print: The pdf is good to print 1 and 2 sided,  flip on long edge. Print in color.

Step 3- Laminate: I recommend getting your own laminator this one is brilliant, its cheap and I’ve had it 4 years and put it to good use.

Please be extra careful when using these spots, they can be slippery on gym floors.

Step 4- Use:

UPDATE: Projector Game

Recommended Equipment

Adapted Soccer 
Slow Motion Ball
Sensory Ball
Soccer Trainer

Adapted Basketball
Basketball w/ handprints size:27.5 (junior) or 28.5 (intermediate)
Adjustable Basketball Stand

Poly Spots
Footprints
Farm Animals
Curved arrows

Wheelchair
Bowling Ramp

Cross Curricular
Beanbags: Geometric shapes
Beanbags: Vegetables

Agility Course
River Stones
Hoop Holders

Walking Trail

Games
Up 4 It

The links above are to items that I personally use and endorse. This site uses affiliate links, which means at no extra cost to you, EnrichEd may earn a commission on any sales.