We all have the stereotypical idea of what makes an ideal student:
-
They don’t talk out of turn,
-
They listen when you, as teacher, are talking, and
-
THEY SIT STILL IN CLASS!
Sitting.
Have you ever thought about how much your students sit as they study? Maybe you’re thinking, “Of course they sit! How else can they study?!”
But sitting a lot is NOT healthy, even though today's average person sits 9.3 hours a day—more hours than they sleep!
Here are some of the ways sitting harms us.
-
People who sit more than 6 hours a day are 40% likelier to die within 15 years than a person who sits less than 3.
-
Sitting seems to be related to weight gain. Obese people sit 2.5 hour more a day than thin people.
-
As soon as you sit,
-
Electrical activity in the leg muscles sits off,
-
Enzymes that break down fat drop 90%,
-
Good cholesterol drops 20%, and
-
Insulin effectiveness drops 24% and risk of diabetes rises.
The recommended 30 minutes of activity a day is not enough, especially for kids. So what is a student to do, if they want to learn a lot - and remain healthy?
Here are some ways to get them out of their chairs and into motion:
-
Take a break from sitting at least every 30 minutes and walk around.
-
Use a stand-up desk. While standing, sway from side to side, left one leg at a time, or find other ways to move as you work. (I’m writing this from my stand-up desk. I hardly use my desk chair anymore.) It takes a bit of time to get used to this, but once you do, your body will thank you for the change!
-
Get a wobble chair or a wobble cushion.Wobble chairs are a bit pricey, but the cushions are a bargain. I found a one for about $10 from Amazon. If you stand on the cushion, it provides a slightly unstable surface that you you have to be active as you stand. If you sit, it will likewise keep you in slight motion. The cushion works best on a hard chair, of course.
-
Take a study break once an hour and go outdoors. There’s nothing like fresh air and sunshine to refresh the mind!
Spend time using the outdoors as your classroom. The summer is an especially good time for this. Learn to identify trees, learn about growing plants by growing a vegetable garden, find a pond or stream and see how many things are living there - and then learn about them.
Remember: Active bodies house active minds!
Did you know that doing art is another way to promote good health? You can read about it here.
We all have the stereotypical idea of what makes an ideal student:
-
They don’t talk out of turn,
-
They listen when you, as teacher, are talking, and
-
THEY SIT STILL IN CLASS!
Sitting.
Have you ever thought about how much your students sit as they study? Maybe you’re thinking, “Of course they sit! How else can they study?!”
But sitting a lot is NOT healthy, even though today's average person sits 9.3 hours a day—more hours than they sleep!
Here are some of the ways sitting harms us.
-
People who sit more than 6 hours a day are 40% likelier to die within 15 years than a person who sits less than 3.
-
Sitting seems to be related to weight gain. Obese people sit 2.5 hour more a day than thin people.
-
As soon as you sit,
-
Electrical activity in the leg muscles sits off,
-
Enzymes that break down fat drop 90%,
-
Good cholesterol drops 20%, and
-
Insulin effectiveness drops 24% and risk of diabetes rises.
The recommended 30 minutes of activity a day is not enough, especially for kids. So what is a student to do, if they want to learn a lot - and remain healthy?
Here are some ways to get them out of their chairs and into motion:
-
Take a break from sitting at least every 30 minutes and walk around.
-
Use a stand-up desk. While standing, sway from side to side, left one leg at a time, or find other ways to move as you work. (I’m writing this from my stand-up desk. I hardly use my desk chair anymore.) It takes a bit of time to get used to this, but once you do, your body will thank you for the change!
-
Get a wobble chair or a wobble cushion.Wobble chairs are a bit pricey, but the cushions are a bargain. I found a one for about $10 from Amazon. If you stand on the cushion, it provides a slightly unstable surface that you you have to be active as you stand. If you sit, it will likewise keep you in slight motion. The cushion works best on a hard chair, of course.
-
Take a study break once an hour and go outdoors. There’s nothing like fresh air and sunshine to refresh the mind!
Spend time using the outdoors as your classroom. The summer is an especially good time for this. Learn to identify trees, learn about growing plants by growing a vegetable garden, find a pond or stream and see how many things are living there - and then learn about them.
Remember: Active bodies house active minds!
Did you know that doing art is another way to promote good health? You can read about it here.
We all have the stereotypical idea of what makes an ideal student:
-
They don’t talk out of turn,
-
They listen when you, as teacher, are talking, and
-
THEY SIT STILL IN CLASS!
Sitting.
Have you ever thought about how much your students sit as they study? Maybe you’re thinking, “Of course they sit! How else can they study?!”
But sitting a lot is NOT healthy, even though today's average person sits 9.3 hours a day—more hours than they sleep!
Here are some of the ways sitting harms us.
-
People who sit more than 6 hours a day are 40% likelier to die within 15 years than a person who sits less than 3.
-
Sitting seems to be related to weight gain. Obese people sit 2.5 hour more a day than thin people.
-
As soon as you sit,
-
Electrical activity in the leg muscles sits off,
-
Enzymes that break down fat drop 90%,
-
Good cholesterol drops 20%, and
-
Insulin effectiveness drops 24% and risk of diabetes rises.
The recommended 30 minutes of activity a day is not enough, especially for kids. So what is a student to do, if they want to learn a lot - and remain healthy?
Here are some ways to get them out of their chairs and into motion:
-
Take a break from sitting at least every 30 minutes and walk around.
-
Use a stand-up desk. While standing, sway from side to side, left one leg at a time, or find other ways to move as you work. (I’m writing this from my stand-up desk. I hardly use my desk chair anymore.) It takes a bit of time to get used to this, but once you do, your body will thank you for the change!
-
Get a wobble chair or a wobble cushion.Wobble chairs are a bit pricey, but the cushions are a bargain. I found a one for about $10 from Amazon. If you stand on the cushion, it provides a slightly unstable surface that you you have to be active as you stand. If you sit, it will likewise keep you in slight motion. The cushion works best on a hard chair, of course.
-
Take a study break once an hour and go outdoors. There’s nothing like fresh air and sunshine to refresh the mind!
Spend time using the outdoors as your classroom. The summer is an especially good time for this. Learn to identify trees, learn about growing plants by growing a vegetable garden, find a pond or stream and see how many things are living there - and then learn about them.
Remember: Active bodies house active minds!
Did you know that doing art is another way to promote good health? You can read about it here.
