Before-school exercise program gets more kids active, ready to learn

It’s a slog for some parents to get their kids to school on time, but hundreds of young Gold Coast students are working up a sweat long before the school bell rings.

Linda Wagstaff-Kalofonos has been running with her kids since her eldest daughter, Alexis, was in prep.

It’s also the perfect opportunity to support Alexis, who has hemiplegic cerebral palsy, a condition that causes paralysis on one side of the body.

“My kids are now in year 4 and year 2 and I still come with them, and we love it,” she said.

“It’s like a family bonding, so as long as my kids keep wanting me to do it with them then I’m going to keep doing it with them.”

 

More and more schools are jumping on board free exercise programs, offering solutions to time-poor and budget-conscious families.

Physical activity among Australian children has been on a gradual decline for years.

National physical activity guidelines recommend school-aged children get at least 60 minutes of moderate exercise a day, but less than 20 per cent are this active.

About 25 per cent of Australian children are overweight or obese, according to the last National Health Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2017–18.

University of Queensland lecturer Michalis Stylianou was among a research team that evaluated the effects of before-school physical activity programs on children’s physical activity levels and learning-related outcomes.

The team’s findings were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2022.

“We found some significant or meaningful changes in physical activity. We also found some meaningful change indicators that are related to readiness to learn,” Dr Stylianou said.

He said it was an under-utilised idea in Australia to get more kids moving.

A Queensland Health spokesperson said it welcomed any initiatives to improve health outcomes, including for children.

Data from the annual AusPlay sport survey shows children returned to weekly out-of-school-exercise after COVID-19 lockdowns.

But participation rates remain fragile as cost-of-living pressures force some parents to sacrifice extra-curricular activities to balance the household budget.

Incentives offered by the federal and state governments aim to increase children’s participation in physical activity, including vouchers to reduce club registration or membership costs.

But where it still may be challenging for families, free school programs like Ashmore’s have no such barriers.

There are no fees and the program is run by volunteers.

PE teacher Joel Campbell arrives early to set up the running course and games, as well as a speaker that blasts out catchy tunes to keep participants motivated.

About 15 per cent of the school population participates in each session and Mr Campbell estimates about 300 students in total have attended so far this year.

On the other side of the country, Japanese language teacher Hugh Ellard oversees the run club at Glencoe Primary School in WA on Wednesday and Friday mornings.

“I have students right through from year 2 up to year 6,” he said.

“It means I get to know the students outside the classroom a little bit better.”

Keeping kids interested can be the key to whether they return each week or not.

Former Olympic triathlete Lizel Moore started the run club at Brookfield State School in Brisbane 16 years ago when her eldest child started prep.

Last semester she vowed to wear a dress — a garment she loathes — if more than 100 kids attended.

At the next session, almost 150 turned up — breaking their attendance record.

The next challenge: a full makeover if they surpass 200.

“I’d have to wear make-up and heels — the whole lot — so I don’t know where I’m going to get that from,” she laughed.