BYO Recreation Helps Schools Prioritize P.E.
Saint Augustine, Florida (PRWEB) August 26, 2014 -- In 1950 the average U.S. public elementary school had as many as three recesses a day and students in all grades enjoyed physical education (P.E.) programs that focused on skill building, conditioning and a love of active leisure. Today, most school districts do not require P.E. in all grade levels and recesses across the country continue to shrink.
At the same time, the quality and variety or playground and sports equipment available to schools has never been greater. BYO Recreation, a national playground and sports equipment company has banded together with Teachers' School Supply t o help schools afford the equipment they need and to encourage school districts to across the country to place an emphasis on active play. As research continues to uncover the intellectual and emotional benefits of regular exercise, the time has come for schools to turn their focus back toward fostering a love play alongside learning.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (APP) estimates as many as 18% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese, which is a 14% increase since 1970. AAP figures also show that up to 32% of children and adolescents are now overweight. To combat this trend, the Center for Disease Control recommends that students receive a combination of daily P.E. classes along with unstructured outdoor play but currently most states do not require daily P.E. for all grade levels. Unfortunately, a growing body of research shows that skipping physical fitness may impact a student’s academic performance as well as their health. Regular exercise has been shown to help regulate mood, improve focus and reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression, factors that greatly impact school culture and improve the grades of individual students.
Educators frequently speak about turning students into ‘lifelong learners’ and ‘lifelong readers’ but there is little talk of encouraging children to develop lifelong recreational skills. By giving students the opportunity to experience new sports and to overcome physical challenges our school systems can give them the opportunity to develop a sense of physical adventure; an opportunity to make recreation a part of their daily lives for their entire lives. Schools should be striving just as hard to graduate students who are eager to participate in intramural sports or become eager participants on the company softball team as they are to graduate students with exceptional essay writing skills.
Driven by this belief, BYO Recreation has become dedicated to improving active recreational and athletic equipment in all schools across the United States. In addition to offering special pricing on playground equipment to schools through their fund matching program, BYO has reduced their prices on all athletic equipment and scoreboards and is offering extended discounts through Teachers' School Supply.
Noah Margulies, BYO Recreation Inc., http://www.byoplayground.com, +1 8008535316 Ext: 404, [email protected]
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