Schools more active at getting kids active

These days parents may find hard to get the kids off the couch to play outside. But now schools in Hamilton are helping the fight for fitness — with a proactive approach to recess.

The proactive approach is something called active recess. The concept is that the school introduces a few light games to the students free time to help kids move. Today CHCH was at W.H. Ballard Elementary School in the east end to see how it works.

It’s a problem that is being solved by a simple game of soccer-baseball.

Active recess is helping kids be more active, at a time that used to be wasted

Monique Mckay, student: “Recess before is like boring and active recess is like ‘funner’.”

The concept is simple. On a typical recess for grades 1 to 4 kids are given equipment to play a variety of games.

Braden Belcher, grade 4: “They’ve got lots of activities, skipping, they’ve got these balls. Lot’s of things fun to do.”

And it’s run by a select few student leaders from older grades who promote activity, and inclusiveness.

Aiden Matto, student leader: “It’s mostly about having fun, and getting like the people who don’t have a lot of friends to make more friends.”

So kids who would have otherwise been off to the sides are encouraged to join in.

Danielle Noble, educational assistant: (So what the point of this?) To be healthy. We need healthy kids and I don’t think they get enough with video games and everything so that’s why we do it here at school.”

The government of Canada recommends that each child gets at least an hour of physical activity a day. But it’s the type of activity that can make all the difference and that’s what active recess aims to help.

In a typical day, kids get about 40 minutes of phys education. Staff noticed that on regular recess, few kids were active, and many just sat on benches. So active recess is providing the extra 20 minutes the kids need.

Julie Densham, HWDSB: “We all know that when you’re active, you feel good. When you feel good, you’re happy. And when you’re happy, you learn well.”

A grant of $2,500 from Meridian Credit Union helped provide new equipment at W.H. Ballard. Staff like Danielle Noble say the benefits are going beyond the physical: “We’re seeing less bullying. Because the kids are participating in programs and they’re running, and they’re making new friends when they’re being around new friends.”

It may seem strange to us that these simple games are being introduced to these kids. But school board education consultant Mark Verbeek says that many kids these days simply didn’t know how to play games like soccer or baseball. So part of their plan was to take the simple step of teaching the kids, and giving them the means to play. The rest takes care of itself.