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Physical Activity & Exercise Videos
The South County Family YMCA is working together with Sarasota County Schools to create a series of physical activity and exercise videos to be used by classroom teachers in classrooms across the county.
In 2007, Governor Charlie Crist signed legislation mandating that all elementary school students receive 150 minutes of physical education per week. In 2008, the mandate was expanded requiring any session of physical activity must be a minimum of 30 minutes in length.
Due to limitations at individual schools, most elementary-aged students receive only 55-110 minutes of actual PE class time per week, leaving anywhere from 40-95 minutes of additional programmed, physical activity needed to fulfill the state law. Classroom teachers have been filling those minutes as best they can, in addition to all of their own scholastic requirements.
The YMCA has been a leader in physical activity programming for 150 years and for 30 years, the South County YMCA in Venice has been serving children and adults by creating fantastic programs to enhance their health. It is a natural fit for the YMCA to step in and help provide the physical activity programming needed to give students not only the amounts of PE needed to fulfill the state law, but also to encourage and promote healthy lifestyles.
Beginning in the Fall of 2008, YMCA instructors specializing in youth fitness will film a series of up to fifty 30-minute videos that classroom teachers in Sarasota County will be able to access from inside their classrooms and play on the Active Boards. The videos will be designed to provide age-appropriate exercise and activity that students can perform in small spaces next to their desks. Sample topics include:
- Zumba and Latin dance
- Martial arts, kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do
- Yoga, Pilates and stretching
- Jump roping and other forms of cardiovascular exercise
- Circuit training and other forms of strength training
- Hip hop, swing, square and other forms of dance
- Exercises using everyday objects and furniture
Ask your child if he/she has been watching the videos in the classroom and encourage participation. Increaseing the amount of daily physical activity is one of the best ways to prevent obesity and live a healthy lifestyle!
