Allied Health Services for Children Central Zone West 49th Street Community Health Centre Bay A, 4755

- 49th Street Red Deer, AB, T4N 1T6 Phone: (403) 314-5240 Fax: (403) 314-5230

O.T. Notes
Tips and Strategies from your Occupational Therapist.

Volume 4, Issue 10

June, 2012

Physical Activity in the Classroom

According to the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines developed by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, children aged 5-11 should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day. The guidelines suggest that participating in 60 minutes of physical activity can have many benefits including, better health, improved school performance, increased strength, improved self-confidence, healthy body weight and increased happiness. Visit http://www.csep.ca for more information regarding the above guidelines. Getting in the recommended physical activity may be challenging for some children and their families for a variety of reasons. Incorporating physical activity throughout the school day will help children reach this goal. Some ideas are listed below.

How to make a referral to Occupational Therapy:

Teacher to complete
referral package

Parent to complete
referral package and consent form

School coordinator/
Director of Student Services to ensure all documentation is completed and signed

Completed referral
package to be sent to the PRACS Intake Resource Coordinator by mail or fax. *** Services are funded by Student Health Partnerships***

Help children choose active games during recess such as tag or basketball.

Did You Know?

In-services can be requested and presented at your school! Our therapy team has developed presentations on a variety of topics including:

Development of Printing Skills Sensory Processing Skills Development of Fine Motor Skills

Why not take the long way from class to class? Walk an extra lap around the school or go outside and run to the next entrance. Use textbooks to do some weight lifting. Students could lift the book Try chair aerobics. Have students above their heads, complete biceps create aerobics moves by moving curls, hold a lighter book out to the their arms and legs in different posiside for a few seconds, or complete tions. Play some music and have stusquats and pick the book up from the dents move to the beat! ground. Incorporate action songs into the Have students complete wall sits daily routine. Look for songs that rewhile waiting in line. This is a great quire whole body actions, or create leg strengthening activity! Have the your own actions. The more moveclass set a goal for holding time and ment required the better. see how fast they can reach it. Thinking of re-arranging your class Create different stations for work. room? Have students pick up and Students could sit on therapy balls, move their own desks and chairs. stand at a higher table, kneel (both Use scooter boards in gym class. knees down or one knee down/one Students could propel themselves or knee up, with their bum up off of their carefully push/pull a classmate. heels) at a table, etc. Teach students basic yoga poses. Try a 5 minute yoga session at morning circle, to prepare for seated work, or to end the day!

Create a relay race review game. Students may have to perform animal walks as they come up to the board to answer questions or the whole team may need to do 10 jumping jacks before their team can answer.

Contact the PRACS Intake Coordinator for more information.