Considering that global physical activity levels in young children continue to decline, planned breaks during the school day provide a unique opportunity to promote the importance of physical activity while also increasing student engagement in movement activities. This article provides information on the benefits of and recommendations for active…

The first Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs (CSPAPs) position statement from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) was released in 2008. It was the first document of its kind to recommend increased school-based opportunities for physical activity. The Statement recommended that schools focus on quality…

Since most Americans have spent the majority of their time at home during the pandemic, and those who are parents have spent 18% of the time with their children, it would be wise to spend the time as a family in meaningful projects and activities that reduce sedentary behaviors and advocate the importance of recycling education. This article…

The purpose of this article is to describe the multiple roles of a physical education teachers in a school setting for the promotion of physical activity via the use of the CSPAP framework. The roles are organized and presented using the acronym S.M.A.R.T. (Supervise, Motivate, Advocate, Research, and Teach). Strategies for physical educators to…

Physical activity (PA) policies have the potential to ensure adequate opportunities for children to develop PA behaviors for a lifetime. Examples include mandating that schools provide recess and physical education for a specified amount of time per week; ensuring that physical education teachers are licensed; providing activity breaks in academic…

Youth in the United States are not getting the recommended daily 60 minutes of physical activity (PA), and childhood obesity is on the rise. Adequate PA is linked with numerous health benefits such as increased cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness and bone strength. Biking is a great opportunity for children of all ages to increase their PA and…

Described as a global outbreak (pandemic) by the World Health Organization, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) raises great concern with more than 2 million infected patients worldwide. A series of measures are taken by governments worldwide to prevent the spread of the outbreak. As new cases increase, people are asked to stay at home. Active living…

While physical education class is intended to be fun, getting students to motivate themselves to participate in activities is challenging. This study aims to provide meaningful strategies to promote physical activity in the classroom while meeting all students' needs. The target population is middle physical education teachers. The following…

As elementary schools expand to include Prekindergarten (PreK), many elementary school physical education teachers are surprised to find PreK classes on their teaching schedule. Equally, many PreK classroom teachers are recognizing the need for quality movement opportunities for their students and are searching for resources that can help all…

The purpose of this article is to encourage physical educators to consider their hobbies and interests and think of ways to connect with students who may not naturally find themselves attracted to our classes. This article shares successes of a high school run club that was offered twenty years ago to high school marching band members and their…

In one form or another, College and University Instructional Physical Activity Programs (C/UIPAP) have been a part of American higher education for 160 years. This essay highlights the history of this evolution, as well as the ongoing need for C/UIPAP. In doing so, it sets the stage for the thematic issue of the "International Journal of…

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience lower levels of physical activity in comparison to the general population. While many factors contribute to this disparity, expanding appropriate and accessible programming in settings frequented by adults with IDD deserves attention. One such setting is post-secondary…

Comprehensive school physical activity programs (CSPAPs) aim to increase students' physical activity opportunities across the entire school day. Targeted areas include physical education, classes throughout the curriculum, before and after school settings, and time spent both with families and in the community. Home fun (formally known as…

Teachers and students alike benefit from using movement in the classroom. When students are able to get up and move periodically throughout the day they are more likely to perform better on their classroom assignments, and will be better able to focus on tasks assigned by the teacher. Movement during the school day (especially in upper elementary…

Physical activity levels and participation in sport-related activities is, in many cases, decreasing. This decrease has been associated with the quality of physical education, which in turn may be determined by the motivational climate. This article aims to provide practical applications, derived from self-determination theory, that may help…