How can I safely reopen my school while also getting students active and healthy after months of virtual learning?
Check out these 4 considerations to help keep your school safe while incorporating daily exercise!
After so much time at home and in front of screens - with school, sports, camps, and social events canceled - students are now more sedentary than ever and many have abandoned daily exercise.
According to CNN, the COVID-19 global pandemic has put a generation of children at higher risk for obesity. Paired with a recent article from The Economist also sounding the alarm, shows how lockdowns may have long-term impacts on our children’s health.
Decades of research has touted the benefits of exercising, but recent studies also show how a sedentary lifestyle affects academic performance. Studies like this one shed a ray of hope on the fight against childhood obesity and reveal the relationship between physical activity and cognition.
With that in mind, how can you safely reopen your school, college, or university while also incorporating physical activity to get students of all ages moving after so many months at home?
“What are the right disinfecting and best cleaning products to buy?”
CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting public spaces offer specific instructions about which cleaning tools are most effective and recommended. Be sure to stock up on gloves, disinfectant wipes, and other gym cleaning products prior to re-opening your doors.
To safely reopen, the CDC recommends screening all students and staff with touchless thermometers every day. Our Echelon Temperature Check-In Kiosk is a great solution for your school, gym, or fitness center. It offers contact-free temperature screening and optional facial recognition in a matter of seconds.
“How do I help students make space for social distancing in schools?”
Floor decals can help enforce the 6-foot rule for social distancing. Remember to practice appropriate spacing not just in classrooms, but also in hallways, school bus lines, libraries, gyms, and outdoors! The Socially Distanced School Day looks different than ever before, but with the right tools and products, students, parents, and staff can help keep themselves and their students safe.
“What can I do to get all students active and healthy outside the classroom?”
Look for ways to incentivize physical activity with kids in elementary school, both at home and during recess periods. After all, social distancing is easier outside, and there is ample evidence to show that, in early childhood especially, children learn better through play.
For high school and college students, encourage safe use of gyms, sports fields, and college recreation centers. One study, conducted at Michigan State University, found that students who used the rec center had both a higher GPA and an increased likelihood of remaining in school.
For all ages, interactive fitness equipment, such as Expresso bikes, cognitive physical cross-trainers, the Aviron Interactive Rower, and Play Pods from SMART Multisensory Fitness, helps to keep students engaged both physically and mentally.
Expresso Bikes
Aviron Interactive Rowers
A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics also shows the effect of cybercyling on classroom behavior and evidence suggests that even one session of physical activity can enhance attention, memory, and brain health.
In other words, college fitness facilities, school sports, and phys ed programs are more important than ever before! Use these tips to safely reopen your gym.
“How can students get daily exercise inside the classroom too?”
You can also create more activity with kids and teens by incorporating physical activity into school lesson plans. Scavenger hunts, classroom exercise breaks, and even simple stretching exercises can make a huge difference to keep students engaged.
After so many months of learning via screen, we know they need it!
Interested in learning more, or chatting with an Advantage Sport & Fitness consultant? Contact us for a free consultation!