Research In Action Article Information

Article Annotation
Ernst, M. (2004). Practical resources for promoting active healthy lifestyles Teaching Elementary Physical Education, 31, 31-33.

Key Words: Success, Active living, self paced activities, plan, participation, personal interest. The author begins this article by discussing that we have ten years of research on healthy active lifestyles, although we have not yet been as successful as we need to be in battling the obesity epidemic and other health issues that plague this nation. The author also states that it is easy for physical educators and other health educators to keep up to date and on current best teaching practices and suggests eight ways to educate children to live a healthy lifestyle. This article provides several recommendations for promoting active and healthy lifestyles. First, Ernst recommends that teachers focus on the promotion of physical activity instead of physically fitness. Second, encourage children work at self- selected levels of intensity. For example: instead of asking students to complete 20 curl-ups, ask students to do as many curl-ups in 30 seconds. This will give students a chance to work at their own pace. Third, is also important to deemphasize competition when it gets in the way of activity participation. Further, it is important that successful participation in activity leads to enjoyment and that there is a maximal amount of time for activity. This article gives great suggestions for future educators to promote healthy lifestyles. Among the many documented strategies to educate children on how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle, let children give input on the lessons (activities that are interesting and enjoyable for students are more likely to continue in the future), promote physical activity outside of school, and plan lessons which incorporate knowledge of the benefits of regular physical activity. Implications for Teaching: As physical educators we need to use self-paced activities. Teach activities that allow all students to be successful. As teachers we need to make sure that we maximize time spent in activity. Make discussions on the benefits of active living a part of our lessons. It is important to have the students do out-of-school physical activity. We need to make sure that we are planning ahead and not planning during the lesson.

Related Readings

1. American Obesity Association [www.obesity.org/ ] 2. U.S. Public Health Service. (1996). Surgeon generals report on physical activity and health. Washington, DC U.S. Government Printing Office. Submitted by Christy Petsovich who is an undergraduate preservice physical education teacher in the School of Sport & Exercise Science at the University of Northern Colorado. Thanks for contributing to PE Central! Posted on PEC: 4/1/05.

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