How Tomorrow Moves: Opportunities to Increase Physical Activity and Create PSE Change in Schools

Introduction: Schools offer many opportunities to get kids moving. Through the School Grants for Healthy Kids: How Tomorrow Moves initiative, Action for Healthy Kids has worked with almost 500 schools over the past two school years to increase physical activity to at least 30 minutes per day (half of the recommended 60 minutes daily) and improve their policy, environmental and system to support active students, parents and communities.

Methods: Schools worked to add movement to their student’s day by implementing innovative physical activity strategies including: recess/play-space/gymnasium refurbishing, equipment for recess and physical education, brain breaks, before- and after-school programming, walking and biking to school programming and fitness testing. In addition, schools engaged family and community volunteers through the nationally recognized Every Kid Healthy Week and the Get in the Action Volunteer Center. 

Results: Schools reported six common themes: increased awareness, increased physical activity, student participation, student engagement, parent support, and funding. Over 90% of schools were able to increase their physical activity levels to meet the recommended 30 minutes during the school day. Schools reported policy, environmental and systems changes as well that positively impact student physical activity levels.

Discussion: Using an innovative model, Action for Healthy Kids is helping schools increase student physical activity significant manner while also addressing school policy, systems and environmental changes to improve school wellness environments. Providing schools with seed money to get started results in increase physical activity for students, staff, parents and increases community engagement.