At a glance
- Physical activity before and after school can benefit students by increasing their overall physical activity and improving grades and test scores.
- Encouraging students to be physically active before and after school helps them find activities they enjoy and might pursue long term.
- Before- and after-school activities can complement school-day efforts to reinforce positive health behaviors outside of the school day.
Why it's important
Physical activity before and after school includes walking or biking to and from school programs. It also includes participating in:
- Physical activity clubs, such as running or walking clubs.
- Intramural programs (sports organized by the school or community in which any child can participate).
- Interscholastic sports (competitive sports between schools).
- Before- and after-school extended day programs.
Students who stay physically active over the summer can be more prepared mentally, physically, and emotionally for the upcoming school year.
Active transportation to school
To foster active transportation, schools can encourage the use of:
- Trails, crosswalks, and programs like Safe Routes to Schools.
- Walking school buses.
Get more information about the Community Guide's recommended interventions to support travel to school. These suggestions can increase walking among students and reduce traffic-related injury.
Resources
- CDC | Ideas for Parents: Before and After School Physical Activity
- Alliance for a Healthier Generation | Healthy Out-of-School Time Assessment
- National After School Association | Standards for Healthy Eating and Physical Activity, and Healthy Equity in Out-of-School Time
- Safe Routes to School Partnership
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The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.
- Guide to Community Preventive Services. Physical activity: interventions to increase active travel to school; 2021. Available at: https://www.thecommunityguide.org/findings/physical-activity-interventions-increase-active-travel-school.html
- Michael SL, Merlo CL, Basch CE, Wentzel KR, Wechsler H. Critical connections: health and academics. J Sch Health. 2015;85(11):740-758
- Sliwa SA, Chang Chusan YA, Dahlstrom C. Opportunities in the extended day: Approaches for promoting physical activity and healthy eating during out-of-school time. J Sch Health. 2023; 93: 813–827.
- Sliwa SA, Hawkins GT, Lee SM, Hunt H. A Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach to support student physical activity and nutrition: Introduction/methods. J Sch Health. 2023; 93: 750–761.