Exercise Available to Children in Elementary Schools

New Report Highlights Food, Exercise Available to Children in Nation's Public Elementary Schools

Three-quarters of American public elementary schools offer physical education more than one day a week, and 8 out of 10 have daily recess, according to a report released today by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).

But the report, Calories In, Calories Out: Food and Exercise in Public Elementary Schools, 2005, also found that 7 percent of these schools have no daily recess. Fifteen percent sell candy at school, and 29 percent do not weigh students. The study, prompted by concern over the rate of obesity among school-age children, was designed to obtain current national information on the availability of food and opportunities for physical activity in public elementary schools.

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Full Report (National Center for Ed Stats)

Digiwall

Elizabeth found this cool climbing wall!

Digiwall looks like a traditional climbing-wall but it’s actually a computer game you climb upon.

Every climbing-hold is equipped with a sensor that registers hands and feet. In that way Digiwall can keep track on where on the wall the climber or climbers are. This opens up for a large number of games, exercises and competitions of various kinds.

Digiwall is also a musical instrument. The climbing-holds act as keys on a keyboard and music is played according to your climbing. The grips can be lit up from the inside and behind the wall there is a large hi-fi system. Together this gives a climbing-wall with new possibilities. In games, competitions, for practicing co-operation and for music creativity the experience intensifies with help from the music and the sound. The built-in lights in the holds show you the way and rules for competition.

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Online video brings the gym home

Tired of the commute to the gym? Embarrassed to be seen sweating in public? Bored with your workout video?

Now there are alternatives to the gym -- and to exercise videos and cable TV fitness shows. A handful of companies are offering streaming fitness video online.

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