babble » blogs » Strollerderby
Strollerderby
10 Minute Breaks Mean Healthy Habits for Kids and Grown Ups
Group Exercise Doesn't Have to Feel Like This
I once heard an interview with the choreographer Twyla Tharp in which she said everyone, everyone, could manage at least an hour a day of daily exercise. She works out for two hours a day, but she accepts that her life is different that way.
I think about Twyla Tharp saying that I absolutely have an hour a day to exercise all the time, when I’m not exercising. So you can imagine my relief at reading that, according Dr. Toni Yancey, a professor of Health Studies at UCLA , all I need is 10 minutes. She calls these breaks “Instant Recess,” and they work in the work place, and, studies show, at school.
Adults are more productive and happier when they gather as a group and walk or stretch or do something physical for ten minutes at regular intervals throughout the day. It’s more fun to exercise in a group, so why not make a group in the office? Healthy habits have a cascade effect. Once you start moving a little, you start doing it more. With recess sacrificed on the altar of No Child Left Behind, 10 minute breaks at school can be a boon for kids. They translate into both better grades and healthier habits.
According to a story on Instant Recess in The New York Times, a study of 24 low income public schools by researchers at the University of Kansas found that kids who were given 10 minute exercise breaks, usually set to music, had better scores in composition, math and spelling. The same students were more active outside of school and on the weekends than their peers in a control group. They also gained less weight.
My son goes to an inclusion school, meaning all the classes have kids who are typically developing and not-so typically developing. Throughout the day, the kids in his class have breaks during which they can hop on a ball down the hall or do something physical. Even on a small scale, the breaks help the kids refocus and recharge.
So heading into Thanksgiving and the holidays and new years resolutions, I’m going to take my cue from my son’s school and instant recess. An hour a day may be a dream, but 10 minutes? That I can make a reality.
How about you? How do you fit exercise into your day? Would your kids like 10 minutes of Instant Recess?
More on Strollerderby
Thanksgiving Means My First Sort of Pumpkin Pie
A Holiday Diet for Digital Devices and Developing Minds
War Games in Korea: Good Guys and Bad Guys
Family Resemblance Ends at Personality
How Old is Too Old to Have a Child?
Do Braces Make Sense for Little Kids?
Books for Children, Perfect Holiday Gifts
Do Celebrity Moms Make the Rest of Us Want to Lose Weight Fast?
Go Back To Strollerderby
0 Comments
[...] Babble (blog) [...]
10 Minute Breaks Mean Healthy Habits for Kids and Grown Ups – Babble (blog) | Health Alerts - For Your Overall Health commented on Nov 24 10 at 10:29 pmLinda, the original one commented on Nov 24 10 at 5:09 pmYes, 10 minute breaks promote well being, but they absolutely do not take the place of an hour of sustained excercise and it’s absurd to even compare the two.
Robin Aronson commented on Nov 24 10 at 6:10 pmNot comparing, but you’ve got to start somewhere. Just sayin’….
Linda, the original one commented on Nov 25 10 at 5:07 amWell, then start excerising with some actual, you know, excercise. These breaks aren’t excercise, but something completely different, more like little breaks to refocus. They’re not making anyone fit.
Robin Aronson commented on Nov 26 10 at 8:32 amIn fact, Prof Yancey found that by taking a short walk or spending a few minutes stretching with a group of colleagues, adults were introducing movement to their lives. They start to feel better in their bodies and so it becomes easier to introduce better habits like walking more and to begin a sustained exercise program. At a moment when, for most people, their lives are primarily sedentary, 10 minutes of exercise does count for something and there’s no point differentiating between psychological and physical when psychological barriers to exercise can be so high. And a 10 minute dance party in your living room is never a bad thing and always a good cardio work out.
Linda, the original one commented on Nov 26 10 at 4:13 pmExcept that cardio has to be sustained (at least 20 minutes & that’s the bare minimum) in order to make you fit. I guess I completely disagree that this is any sort of solution to the problem of a sedentary lifestyles. The very fact that you said outright that “all you need” is “10 minutes” would demonstrate that it isn’t just the beginnings of an excercise program, but a replacement for it. I agree with Twyla. People should be moving their bodies for at least an hour every day. Our children are watching.
Add your take:
Note: Babble is a supportive, diverse community. We encourage a range of opinions,
but any unduly hostile comments will be removed.
Comments are delayed up to 15 minutes
Lori Garcia 
Joslyn Gray 
Amber Doty 
Julianna Miner 
Monica Bielanko 
Sierra Black 
Meredith Carroll 
Carolyn Castiglia 
Sunny Chanel 
Madeline Holler 
Rebecca Odes 
Danielle Smith 
Danielle Sullivan 
Katherine Stone 
The Walt Disney Company supports Babble as a platform dedicated to honest, engaged, informed, intelligent and open conversation about parenting. However, the opinions expressed on this site are those of individual parents/writers and do not reflect the views of Disney. In addition, content provided on this site is for entertainment or informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or safety advice.
0