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The Importance of School Exercise

By Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer

The Recess Doctor

Why Exercise is Important for Students

The challenges to daily exercise.

The challenges to daily exercise keep mounting for students. Winter months bringing colder temperatures and shortened days limit the amount of outdoor exercise. Video games and computer activities keep competing with school sports participation. School sports participation is losing as fewer students each year participate in school organized sports teams.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations in 2019, sports participation is down for the first time in three decades, led by a decline in football for the fifth year in a row.

Why Should Schools Care?

The CDC recommends at least one hour of physical activity every day. However, even 10 minutes of physical activity makes a difference in health and well-being. Stringing together in 10-minute blocks or taking a break between 10 minutes of physical activity both have merit and benefits.

The benefits of physical activity in school are many?

• Improves attention in the classroom

• Improves memory and brain health

• Reduces risk of depression

• Improves muscular fitness

• Builds strong muscles

• Builds endurance

Fundamental Movement Program

allows you to create an outdoor motor learning lab painted on preschool and elementary school playgrounds for preschool children. An easy, do-it-yourself layout plan transforms your play space into a colorful arrangement of learning games and motor skills activities.

You can teach movement skills like jumping, balancing, hopping and more.

Active Kids. Confident Educators. Zero PE Experience Needed.

YOU'LL LOVE IT BECAUSE:

No Prep, No Stress

Just open and teach—each activity is ready to go with step-by-step instructions and visual guides.

Confidence for Non-PE Teachers

Build your skills while helping kids develop strength, coordination, balance, and focus.

Any Space, Any Time

Works in classrooms, cafeterias, gyms, playgrounds—or wherever you have room to move!

Course Content

This course is divided into 4 areas of instruction:

Section 1 discusses how “loose equipment” increases children’s physical activity levels.

Section 2 looks at playground markings (hopscotch courts, basketball courts, etc) that contributed to increasing physical activity levels on playgrounds.

Section 3 talks about the critical role schools can play in children reaching the recommended 60 minutes a day in physical activity.

Section 4 explores the various strategies for increasing children’s physical activity levels on playgrounds.



Course Description

This course looks at the value of playgrounds and how they can contribute to the recommended 60 minutes daily of physical activity for children. We explore the concept that playgrounds needn’t have to be expensive to get kids active. In fact, upper elementary students rarely play on play structures at all. This session will cover alternatives to the typical playground structure and the research behind the effectiveness of alternative playgrounds strategies like portable equipment, loose equipment, painted playground markings, and natural playgrounds.

ONLINE COURSE OPTIONS

Playground Supervisor Training

Bullying Prevention Training

Grant Writing Course

Recess Before Lunch Training

Pedometer Walking Program Training

**NEW Course Bundle**

$2,250

How to Have A Peaceful Playground

Low Cost, High Activity Playground

Playground and Strategies for Improving Recess

Physically Active & Engaged Children

Physically Active and Engaged Children with games designed specifically for motor skill level and development.

While you can buy "pretty or cutesy" game markings, our game markings are shown to be the games kids like to play and will return to over and over.

Our playground games support daily physical activity guidelines and help reduce sedentary behavior during school hours.

Activities are inclusive and adaptable, ensuring every child—regardless of ability—can participate and succeed.

These games boost confidence, focus, and emotional well-being, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of movement.

The Recess Program Kit comes with blueprint designs for 3 different fundamental age groups:

Prek-Kindergarten

Primary (Grades 1-3)

Upper Elementary (Grades 3-6)

Field Games (1-6)



Add over 100 games and markings!

Game options are for individual or competitive or cooperative play.

The Peaceful Playgrounds Program is a nationally recognized and award-winning physical activity program touching nearly 5 million children annually for over 27 years!

Contact us. We can assist you with brochures, estimate and everything you need to get started today.

(951) 245-6970 or officestaff@peacefulplaygrounds.com

The Peaceful Playgrounds Program is a nationally recognized and award-winning physical activity program touching nearly 4 million children annually for over 28 years!

Recess is a right, not a reward.

Withholding play harms children’s ability to focus, self-regulate, and engage in class. Positive behavior systems work better than taking recess away.

10 Steps to a Peaceful Playground

Creating Safe, Active, Happy Playgrounds

May 2026 Winner

Melina DiSanto - JC Mitchell Elementary, FL

Enter your school today in the "Learn to Play" US Map Playground Map Stencil Giveaway. The beautiful geographically and proportionately accurate educational map stencil is 20 feet by 36 feet and extends the classroom curriculum to recess and outdoor play. History and geography come alive with the games and activities included in the stencil set.

You might be the next winner. Good Luck!

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