Pandemic Fit: Understanding Physical Education And Supporting Childhood Physical Activity During A Global Pandemic

​Sam Edwards, BA, MA

We all have some memory of this time. Fourth down, it’s the last play to win the daily recess Nerf football championship. You run to the corner of the parking lot end zone and catch the winning touchdown right before the teacher calls you in. The instant rush of becoming a classroom hero consumes you—even if only until the bell rings. Physical education class and recess are among the most physically and socially formative times in a young life. Those moments will have to take new shape this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and schools moving to online learning. Furthermore, we must prioritize supporting daily physical activity for students amid the uncertainty of this time.

​Studies support consistent physical activity level as a factor in chronic disease prevention in young people. According to a 2015 study of 2,629 children ages 6-17, physical activity, especially in conjunction with a healthy diet, was associated with more favorable cardiovascular disease biomarker measurements. Another study of 12 to 19-year-olds found a positive association between insulin sensitivity and physical activity, suggesting that increased physical activity may be a worthy prevention strategy for Type 2 diabetes. A 2019 study published by the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America linked moderate to vigorous physical activity with mental health benefits for children, particularly collaborative activities such as team sports.
 
Despite all of the known benefits of physical activity for young people, keeping a consistent exercise routine is difficult. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines, children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 should do 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day. According to the 2018-2019 National Survey of Children’s Health, only 28.3% of children ages 6-11 and 16.5% ages 12-17 achieve that daily goal. Recent studies on the effects of COVID-19 show that lockdowns of public spaces and shifts to online learning are leading to an increase in sedentary activity and a decrease in physical activity, which could further reduce the number of children achieving activity goals.
 
This time period offers an opportunity for creativity in how we support child development and chronic disease prevention through physical activity. It’s important for us to rethink the nostalgia of past gym classes and invent ways to break up the newly sedentary nature of the school day. For example, physical education teachers in Maine have adapted the competitive and creative nature of certain gym class activities to the virtual classroom. They created “Bingo boards” to help students track the physical activity they incorporate into their day and the exercises they do during virtual gym classes. Maine middle school students worked together to create a virtual circus showcasing their physical abilities from home. Children who need more individualized support benefited from pushes Maine physical education teachers have made to align the pandemic gym class more with a personal training format. One-on-one calls to instruct children through exercises they can do safely at home may be more logistically taxing, but could provide a more comfortable environment and increase participation.
 
Outside of school, there is a lot we can do as parents, caregivers, and supporters to help the younger generation achieve positive health outcomes. A 2020 study suggested that altering the home environment by building obstacle courses or creating a neighborhood Facebook group where people could post communal exercise challenges and discuss struggles and successes could help with staying fit during the pandemic. However it occurs, encouraging an active lifestyle is going to take bolstered emphasis and creativity since there are an increasing array of challenges. Yet, the health benefits of keeping our kids active can be achieved through this time of global uncertainty. Maybe, they will come out of this with some positive memories of their own.

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Author's Bio

Sam joined Project Viva as a full-time CoRAL Research Assistant in September 2020. Prior to joining the Institute, he served as a Rural Family Health Educator with Peace Corps--Belize teaching health and physical education courses as well as helping implement community projects designed to sustainably improve maternal, neonatal, and child health outcomes and prevent non-communicable disease. Sam earned his Bachelor's and Master's of Arts degrees in 2018 and 2019 at Vanderbilt University as part of an interdisciplinary, dual degree program in Medicine, Health, & Society. He has a wide array of interests including sports, food, Netflix docu-series, and staying up to date with hip-hop music, fashion, and dance. Sam hopes to eventually earn an impactful career as a physician and global health professional.
 
Fun Fact
In college, I once dressed up as a Christmas tree for a halftime competition during a basketball game... and won.