Coach For Kids Calls an Audible

For the last 15 years, our Wellness in the Schools programming has transformed the school lunch and recess experience. We have always offered programming that supports our immediate goal to have students receive a healthy lunch followed by an active and positive recess experience so they can return to the classroom focused and ready to learn. Our programming teaches students to adopt these healthy habits to their every day, help them to understand and feel the benefits, and ultimately reach our goal of ending childhood obesity.

As our short term goal of teaching healthy habits to live and learn better and our long term goal of ending childhood obesity has not and will not change, the way in which we have had to stay the course during this pandemic has. 

When schools pivoted to remote, hybrid, in-school, or a sporadic flux of all, we stayed constant in providing them with our support – and pivoted with each play. And what this pandemic highlighted for us is that our programming has never been more needed. For the most part, there was no more lunch in the cafeteria but they were still eating in some way, so our WITS Chefs supported that experience with virtual nutrition education, food access, and cooking classes. However, our schools were not able to provide recess. There was no longer a set time for kids to move, play, socialize, or recharge. There was no longer a place for them to gain physical confidence, work in a team, learn a new movement, perfect a skill, or forge a new friendship. These are the vital components our WITS Coaches teach during WITS Play at recess. Not only was the ability to release pent up energy taken away, but all the social-emotional learning that goes along with it was also missing. Students were now sitting in front of their computer all day, either at a desk in a classroom surrounded by plexiglass or at home far from their peers. 

We quickly pivoted our Coach for Kids curriculum to provide schools with a daily and weekly schedule of movement opportunities. We merged our classroom curriculum of fitness breaks (WITS FIT BITS) with our recess playbook (WITS Play) and created new models that are plugged into school schedules throughout the school day, virtually. We provide a schedule of virtual live classes and/or prerecorded videos that teachers can use when they feel the need. We have also teamed up our WITS Coaches with our WITS Chefs during nutrition and cooking classes so every WITS class includes movement before, during, or after a nutrition or cooking lesson.

It is one thing to be an effective and engaging coach in person but a whole other skill to be able to engage elementary school age and even more challenging, middle school-aged students in physical activity as a class through a screen. The start was definitely a challenge, as we were up against students who were taking our class from their bed and not really in the mood to move, students who didn’t feel comfortable with their camera on, students who were trying to stay quiet so as not to distract adults or siblings trying to work nearby. The challenges were daunting, however, we persevered and found a way to overcome all of it through WITS Play techniques and inclusion. 

We now have concrete schedules with our schools that incorporate movement throughout the day. Our schools have never been more appreciative and our student surveys have proved that this new approach is helping them focus and feel better throughout their school day.

The success that we have found so far in this unprecedented year has given Wellness in the Schools a new digital arm to our programming that we believe will continue even as life gets back to “normal”. Not only does this digital arm help our schools reach their required 60 minutes of physical activity a day, it enables us to reach more students and school communities – it’s especially fun when we see parents join in on the fitness fun.

We will continue to pivot to the needs of our communities. And we will always find a way to continue to Let Kids Play, Feed Kids Real Food, and Get Kids Green.