PE/Health Teacher Tips on Staying Active

PE/Health Teacher Tips on Staying Active and Healthy During School Closures

By: Giovanna Bechard and Cindy Long

Stress and anxiety have spiked as cases of COVID-19 surge but there are ways to maintain a sense of control and calm in an uncontrollable, uncertain time – keep social distancing practices, get lots of rest and stay physically active, health experts advise. It’s the last part – staying active and getting enough exercise – that many people struggle with, especially with kids at home.

Some things to consider would be ‘consistency over perfection’ when it comes to exercise, many people think that they have to be perfect with diet and exercise, when it is not the case. Just being consistent will help your health.”

“Some things to consider would be "consistency over perfection" when it comes to exercise, many people think that they have to be perfect with diet and exercise, when it is not the case. Just being consistent will help your health, said Cheryl Lambert a Health teacher in Yarmouth who is working to keep her students and her family active.

Lambert knows how hard keeping an exercise routine is in these circumstances, especially as many are trying to both work and parent at the same time. She’s in that boat too, with three young kids at home. Exercise, Lambert says helps. Physical activity can ease stress and anxiety, improve sleep, and boost immunity – all of which are needed to cope with the pandemic. Lambert says to make things easier, form an accountability/support group to keep you motivated to move.

“I have a group of 4 friends, and we text each other every time we complete a workout and cheer each other on. We haven't worked out together in a while, but it just helps to have the support and know someone is pumped that you completed something for your health. We started out sharing those results and now we share our life. It has been great,” added Lambert, Yarmouth EA.

Some of the easiest things to do for exercise is to simply get outside and get some fresh air. If you have kids, take a family walk or go for a hike. Make it a game – run for Some of the 30 seconds, walk for 30, and set a place or landmark in the distance easiest things to race to. Go for a bike ride and try to spot what neighbors have put in their windows, like teddy bears, to do for exercise are hearts, and rainbows. to simply get If the weather doesn’t cooperate, take the activity inside. Iowa outside and physical education teacher Erika Mundt sent her high school get some fresh PE students a body weight workout to follow three days a air. week and encourages them to use MyFitnessPal to log their movement and diet. Body weight workouts can be done by anyone of any age and are an easy way to keep muscles strong – pushups, sit ups, and squats are the basics, but there are lots of different exercises to try that work your muscles in your arms, back, legs and abdominals. Go for three sets of 15 and work up from there.

Ultimately we want our students and their families to understand the need to move daily. We want to encourage healthy living as much as possible.

living as much as possible. There are many PE teachers sharing ways to move on Twitter and other social media platforms.” Blake White, an elementary PE teacher in Lake George, New York, said teachers can use live video to connect with students with programs like Zoom, which offers 40 minutes free – just enough time for a workout.

“When we did our live presentation last week,” White told the Post Star, “we set up an obstacle course and we challenged the kids to come up with their own obstacle course, videotape themselves running through it and send it back to us.

The PE teachers also asked the kids to think of an exercise for each letter of the alphabet or invent a new exercise.

“It’s just to keep them active and in school mode,” White said. “The objective may change, but it’s good to know they’re engaged and active.”

Tips from PE teachers around the country to stay active

• Set a goal of 30 minutes of vigorous exercise a day, 60 minutes for kids. Break time into blocks of 15 minutes four times a day or 30 minutes twice a day. • Make it a routine at the same time in your daily schedule. If it’s a habit it will stick. • Get outside whenever possible. • Ask your kids to teach you a skill they learned in PE at school • Learn a new skill each day and make up new exercises to add. • Take advantage of online resources like GoNoodle and Cosmic Kids Yoga – they’re fun and family friendly. • Have a KidsBop dance party. Let older kids create playlists for a family dance party. • Get out jump ropes, balls, raquets and other sports equipment and play a classic game or make up a new one. • Tap into social media and ask for recommendations from friends and neighbors to stay active and de-stress.