How to Reduce Sedentary Time in Schools

Adjusting the School Environment

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   Break up sedentary time. Most children are by nature active beings, but being required to sit for long stretches (such as at a school desk) can help to ingrain more sedentary behavior (SB) patterns. There has to be some amount of sedentary time in order for learning to take place, but interspersing sit-down time with even brief activities is an important step toward altering SB patterns.^[2]

   1. Brief activities — or 'energizers' — interspersed throughout the day not only help reduce the overall amount of sedentary time per day, they also can benefit health, focus, and academic achievement. For instance, students who take a 10-minute walk before a test have been shown to display better focus, increased relaxation, and thus better scores.
   2. Adjust your class schedule, if necessary. Aim to alternate between sedentary activities and activities that encourage movement. For example, begin with a math lesson, schedule in free play, teach a reading lesson, then engage in an activity that encourages gross motor skills.^[3]
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   Create 'active' lessons and assignments. For teachers, reducing sedentary time in school often boils down to basic alterations like designing class activities that require students to stand instead of sit, or move around instead of remaining still. 'Active' lessons and homework require students to do more than watch a video, work on a computer, or read a textbook; they require them to get up and get moving.^[4]

   1. Consider, for instance, the difference between learning how paper is made by watching a video as opposed to getting your hands into some mushy wood pulp. The first option reinforces SB patterns like staring at a TV or other screen device, while the second promotes active, hands-on engagement. Beyond the possible health benefits, many children will gain more from more active forms of learning anyway.
   2. Schedule group projects that incorporate movement as well. When planning for a certain unit, aim to find activities that will keep your students active. For instance, have your students measure their body parts during an anatomy lesson or practice multiplication using jumping jacks.
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   Stand instead of sit. Some workplaces have begun to transition from traditional desks to taller, chair-free standing desks — or even the so-called 'treadmill desk.' Should this concept take off widely in schools, it would no doubt significantly reduce daily sitting time. It may seem like a small difference, but the simple act of standing instead of sitting can offer several health benefits.^[5]

   1. The cost involved in switching to standing desks is not inconsequential, of course, but teachers can work to increase standing time in other ways as well. Recurring or random times when the students must stand at their desks instead of sitting can be incorporated into the daily routine, for instance.
   2. You can encourage movement in your classroom by having an empty, open area that is accessible to all students. Move chairs and desks away from this area so the children can use the space to stay active.^[6]
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   Give kids options. Kids, like adults, tend to respond better to changes when they feel like they have some measure of choice or control over the process. Rather than simply dictating a set list of changes to reduce sedentary time, it is preferable to offer a range of alternate activity options from which the kids can choose. If they feel like active agents of change at school, they may be more likely to carry such positive changes home as well.^[7]

   1. For instance, teachers can offer a set of 'daily physical activity' (DPA) bins from which students can choose from a variety of games and activities. Or, a greater emphasis can be placed upon offering a range of intramural activities, including sports but also activities like dancing, yoga, etc., that emphasize 'fundamental movement skills.'
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   Offer incentives and rewards. It is important to let kids know that decreasing sedentary behavior can help improve overall health, reduce obesity, and enhance academic performance. However, such concepts can be a bit abstract, especially in comparison to some old-fashioned, age-appropriate rewards. For smaller kids, simple incentives like stickers or bracelets can spur enthusiasm for making changes. For older kids, providing pedometers or accelerometers can act as a combined reward and self-monitoring device.

   1. One of the numerous programs established in schools to reduce SB emphasizes replacing sedentary 'screen time' with physical activities that focus on mastering six core skills: running, throwing, dodging, striking, jumping, and kicking. In this case, the reward itself (achieving 'mastery') reinforces the desired behavioral change.^[8]