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Mrs. Shari Weinberg |
Mr. Bryan Weinberg |
Shari Weinberg:
“Being Active” is the common thread that has continually run through my professional and personal life. From my earliest childhood memories to teaching Physical Education for over 30 years, physical activity has been a major part of my life. Raising four boys, my husband and I spent years in hockey arenas, on tennis courts, or in swimming pools. Even our dog would join our family on many rollerblading excursions. Now, I am having even more fun doing it all over again with my grandchildren.
Today I see so many students in front of their screens, complaining about walking up and down our schools staircases and avoiding any physical activity at all. Every day in our society and schools we see kids who are dealing with rising stress levels, anxiety and other challenges to their overall emotional well-being. Why has this become so prevalent? What is the correlation? Is this because only 35% of 5- to 17- year-olds are reaching their recommended physical activity levels? Is it a lack of physical activity due to screen time? Is it social media pressure? Probably it’s all of the above.
It is no secret that being physically active is beneficial for nearly all children. Active kids are better able to handle physical and emotional challenges – from running to catch a bus to studying for a test. Studies, reports, and education programs consistently reveal that not only is regular physical activity a necessary part of a child’s day, but also a lack of exercise can be detrimental to their overall physical and mental health. The 2018 Canadian Participaction Study report card shows that “when the body doesn’t move enough, the brain can’t perform to its fullest potential. Children with poor aerobic fitness appear to have more difficulty solving problems and are more likely to make mistakes.”
Adding more physical activity to kids’ routines could be the missing part of the equation to support their success in the classroom, on the field, and with their friends. But why have we seen the diminished and continual lack of response and support for more physical activity?
I know from experience and research in the field that physical activity may help many students to lower feelings of anxiety in youth. The social connections kids can make through sport and activity can make such a positive impact on friendships and, not surprisingly, studies show that youth that are engaged in sports and physical activity have higher self-esteem, social interactions are stronger and they exhibit fewer depressive symptoms.
So what can we do in our schools and in our own homes to help? The biggest obstacle in schools around fitness is an apathetic attitude towards gym and sport. We know the benefits of being active, but Canada and many other countries have not made this a priority in their educational systems. Schools need to stop considering physical activity as just a fun distraction from the seriousness of academic work and recognize its greater importance for the overall health and well-being of students. In the Jewish day school system, with its dual curriculum and longer school days, it is even more challenging to integrate sufficient Physical Education classes into student schedules. Often we see that gym class is just an afterthought.
Although I would love to see compulsory Physical Education throughout high school, it is only one initiative that could help change activity levels. At BAS I am pleased to see that we have continued to support the increase in physical activity approach through programs such as lunchtime open gym, new clubs such as Dance Club, and of course our varsity sports teams. Additions such as the new Dance course also goes a long way to offer not only another chance for our students to be active but also recognizes the importance of finding new initiatives. In some ways, we have our student bodies listening to our students’ bodies.
Parents can make a huge difference in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle to their children, we know that children are 6 times more likely to be active when one or both parents were active. Not only is this healthy for both parents and children but it gives parents more time to spend and speak with your kids. According to Chris Freytag, “You can’t ask your kids to do things you don’t do,” “You can’t ask them to eat their veggies if you never do, nor can you preach the health benefits of exercise if you never get out there and sweat. Your kids are watching you. Your actions speak volumes.” Parents should encourage students to follow their passions, encourage outside recreational and competitive sporting and fitness opportunities. Your children grow up fast, get out and spend time with them!
Bryan Weinberg:
I was born to move. In fact, we all were. The aches, pains, soreness, and, at times, serious health problems that can occur after prolonged periods of being sedentary are a reminder of how much our bodies need to be active. Countless studies and bodies of research (see above) have demonstrated how significant the relationship between regular physical activity and overall health is for the average person. This transcends age groups, cultures and history. Prior to the development of agriculture, our early ancestors relied on their endurance and physical health to hunt and gather food. If they didn’t move, they didn’t eat, and they didn’t survive. Being active and mobile, in a way, is what makes us human.
The issue, however, lies in how convenience has taken over our lives. An individual with an internet connection (or very good data plan) could comfortably go about their daily work and errands without leaving their couch. Food and drinks, from take out to groceries, can be delivered to your door. Outdoor games and playing is becoming replaced by multiplayer online video games where you are not confined to your neighborhood friends and can interact with people from around the world. And of course, shopping for just about anything can done with a few clicks.
Despite the aforementioned luxuries, I was fortunate to grow up in a family that strongly encouraged participation in various sports and activities. My mother, Shari, made it clear that being inactive or uninvolved in physical activities was not an option in our house. My brothers and I mostly took to hockey, with other sports like baseball, tennis and waterskiing taking its place in the warmer months of spring and summer. Our involvement and love for playing might have been innate, but there is no doubt that our parents guided us to take these routes along the way, and I am glad they did.
Beyond the physical and mental benefits of regular physical activity, my brothers and I learned how growing up with this approach to exercise can be even more far-reaching. Aside from learning about teamwork, dedication and commitment through team sports, we were able to expand our social and professional networks through the connections of sport, both competitive and recreational. For myself, my proficiency in playing hockey allowed me to start teaching hockey, in turn opening doors and opportunities that led to a career in teaching. While completing my Masters of Teaching at the University of Toronto, I focused my research on how physical activity affected student behaviour in the classroom. I’ll save you some reading – it helps a lot. The process of completing my paper felt like a study about myself and my family. My parents and brothers have all found success. We are healthy, social and involved in the lives of the next generation of Weinberg’s who, if I have any say, will be even more regularly active than we were.
Allowing children and students to be inactive is doing them a disservice. They need to move. Their attitudes may not be as inclined to be active, but their muscles, bones, respiratory and circulatory systems, and just about any other part of them related to their health yearns for it. Regular physical activity may not fit into their, or your, ideal schedules or budgets. But it should because it will help them when and where it truly matters.
An active child is a healthy child.
Check out: www.participACTION.com/reportcard
