NutriActive
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
NutriActive is a 4-week intervention delivered to kindergartners and first graders on a daily basis. It consists of a 15-minute morning walk and a 90-minute after school session which includes classroom learning and physical activities.
In classroom sessions, students learn about body awareness, play safety and injury prevention, and nutrition. In physical activity sessions, students participate in fitness enhancing activities that help develop their motor skills. Students jump rope, learn to kick for accuracy, throw for distance and participate in exercises designed to enhance strength and build cardiovascular fitness.
In classroom sessions, students learn about body awareness, play safety and injury prevention, and nutrition. In physical activity sessions, students participate in fitness enhancing activities that help develop their motor skills. Students jump rope, learn to kick for accuracy, throw for distance and participate in exercises designed to enhance strength and build cardiovascular fitness.
Goal / Mission
The goal of this intervention is to improve motor skills and fitness in young children. Fitness and motor skills development early in life can lay the foundation for successful lifelong physical activity participation.
Impact
A short-duration lifestyle intervention can have a lasting effect on children's fitness and motor skills development.
Results / Accomplishments
Students receiving the intervention were compared to students in control schools. Significant, sustainable changes on student's motor skills and fitness levels were observed following this short, intense fitness program.The intervention group scored significantly better than the control group on push-up, long jump, and all motor skills tests after completing the 4-week intervention (p<.05). After 4 months, students in the intervention group continued to score better than the control group on pull ups (p=.001), shuttle run, jump rope, and throwing (p<.001).
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
University of Northern Iowa
Primary Contact
Oksana Matvienko
University of Northern Iowa
203 Wellness & Recreation Center
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0241
(319) 273-3613
oksana.matvienko@uni.edu
http://www.uni.edu/coe/departments/school-health-p...
University of Northern Iowa
203 Wellness & Recreation Center
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0241
(319) 273-3613
oksana.matvienko@uni.edu
http://www.uni.edu/coe/departments/school-health-p...
Topics
Health / Children's Health
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Physical Activity
Organization(s)
University of Northern Iowa
Source
American Journal of Health Promotion
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Iowa
For more details
Target Audience
Children