Physical Activity Challenge kicks-off

This morning I joined students from Lyneham Primary School, and Brindabella Christian College in working up a sweat at the launch of the 2010 Minister’s Physical Activity Challenge.

Now in its third year, the 10-week challenge sets children the task of being physically active for at least an hour a day for a minimum of five days a week. This year promises to be the Challenge’s biggest yet with 57 schools and around 16,000 students registered to take part, up from 38 schools and about 10,000 students last year.

Physical activity promotes healthy growth and development, builds strong bones and muscles, improves our fitness and helps us achieve and maintain a healthy weight.  And physical activity also has a positive effect on how students learn and participate in the classroom.

Research also shows that children exposed to physical activity at primary school age are more inclined to develop the skills and habits which will make them active and healthy adults. So this Challenge is all about getting kids active early.

I look forward to joining the Challenge and encourage all students to undertake at least 30 minutes of extra exercise a day, either during school breaks or outside of school hours.

To successfully complete the Challenge, children will need to find an extra 30 minutes a day on top of their daily PE lesson.  It’s easier than it may look because activities such as walking or riding to school, playing games at lunchtime or after school or even walking the dog can help a student meet the Challenge.

The ACT Government is taking practical steps to help students be active and healthy.  A team of Physical Education Consultants is working with ACT public primary schools to deliver higher quality PE lessons.

In 2010, schools which meet their physical activity target will receive funding from the Children’s Physical Activity Foundation’s ‘Prize Pool’ to support the purchase of sports and exercise equipment.

Each of the ten weeks of the Challenge has a different physical activity message such as, ‘Active Transport – walk or ride to school’.

The Challenge starts on 19 July 2010. For more information visit www.activekids.org.au/site/mpac.php