Fitness Archives - Skillastics

Five ways to Boost Your Physical Activity Program Even with Limited Staff

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Sandy Slade

There are a multitude of reasons why an After School program may have staffing limitations. As cold weather approaches in the winter months, staff levels may be affected by illnesses,

Why Skillastics® Is The Best Choice for Your Physical Activity Program.

Posted on December 28, 2022 by Sandy Slade

Decades ago, education consisted of a single teacher in a one-room schoolhouse filled with kids of all ages, while After School programs didn’t exist. Physical activity programs involved simple free

Physical Activity vs. Movement: Consider Both For Your After School Program

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Sandy Slade

Words can ignite certain feelings in us. These feelings are usually connected to experiences we’ve had at some point in our lives. For instance, the word family may mean something

Seven steps to starting an Afterschool Program, even on a limited budget

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Sandy Slade

So you want to start an afterschool program. Whether it’s your lifelong dream to provide a safe space for kids to gather after school, or you’ve been voluntold by your

Quick Tips for Making Fitness Fun, Educational, and Meaningful in your Afterschool Program

Posted on August 22, 2022 by Sandy Slade

No matter what generation you identify with, if you watched TV while you were growing up, you probably had a pretty cool fitness icon to look up to. Whether it

Vision to Reality – 5 Tips To Transform Your Afterschool Program

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Sandy Slade

It’s no secret the American workforce has experienced some rocky turmoil over the past year. As if the pandemic weren’t enough, employers faced The Great Resignation and then “The Great

Seven Key Ingredients For Improving Student Motivation

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Sandy Slade

Some educators use the words motivation and engagement interchangeably, but they’re very different. Motivation, from the Latin word motivus–meaning moving–is the force or thing that prompts you to act where

Ways to Recognize Children to Encourage More Physical Activity

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Sandy Slade

There’s a constant battle in the mind of a child these days. The pull of electronic devices seems to be stronger than any force on the planet. When iPads, iPhones,

Five Before School Fitness Ideas That Work

Posted on February 20, 2022 by Sandy Slade

Enter your text here…There’s no doubt that kids who engage in physical activity before school have a leg up on kids who don’t engage in physical activity. Studies have shown

Fun Ways To Keep Kids Active in Your Boys and Girls Club

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Sandy Slade

Since 1860, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America has been an essential part of learning and fitness for children throughout the country. The national organization’s mission is to enable

Guide to Healthy and Active Students

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Sandy Slade

Students today experience unparalleled pressure compared to previous generations. The stakes are higher for education and college entrances, a college degree likely won’t be enough preparation for a career, and

Tips And Tricks To Make Exercise Fun For Kids

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Sandy Slade

There is nothing like the feelings of elation and accomplishment after exercising, but too many people never get there because they never get started in the first place. If exercising

The Benefits of Student-Led Activities

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Sandy Slade

It may come as a surprise to learn that leadership doesn’t begin at the high school level. In fact, educators are creating opportunities for young leaders at the primary age

The Best Physical Activity Programs to Organize a Group of Mixed Age Students with Limited Staff

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Sandy Slade

Most people would recognize the famous movie line, “Life is like a box of chocolates… you never know what you’re going to get.” The same line could easily represent the

Challenge Traditional Learning With Digital Specialty Programming

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Sandy Slade

If the past couple of years has taught us anything it’s how very critical flexibility in the educational setting is. Yes, we weathered the COVID storm together. Educators and school

Physical Activity and Sport-Skill Development Activities Afterschool Programs Provide

Posted on September 27, 2022 by Sandy Slade

Sports and activities are ever-evolving, taking on surprising forms over the recent years that help encourage kids to not only get and stay active, but to consider their whole body

Technology and Interactive Media as Tools to Get Children Moving

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Sandy Slade

There’s no denying the pandemic changed the way we communicated, learned, and even exercised. Faced with the unique obstacle of continuing physical activity and movement while living and learning remotely,

Reasons Movement Teaches Kids to Think and Learn Differently

Posted on June 23, 2022 by Sandy Slade

Can science really confirm that physical activity affects the way we learn? Absolutely. Studies have proven that physical movement helps kids improve their memory, increase their motivation, and improve motor

The Missing Link: How Exercise & Healthy Living Can Save the Future Generations

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Sandy Slade

In bygone days, neighborhood children ran and played outdoors from dawn ‘til dusk, biking through the dirt and capering in the woods. Moms and dads whistled loudly when it was

Surprising Consequences of Physical Inactivity

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Sandy Slade

You don’t need a degree in sports medicine to know that some consequences of physical inactivity are as plain as the nose on your face. Obesity–both as a child and

Skillastics® Speed Stacking: The Physical Activity Your Program is Missing

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Sandy Slade

Over twenty years ago, Speed Stacks® founder Bob Fox watched Sport Stacking for the first time on a late night tv show. An elementary school teacher by trade, he quickly

How Budget Cuts Have Created a Health Epidemic in Students

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Sandy Slade

It’s no big secret that physical fitness is essential to living a long and healthy life, yet Physical Education is only mandatory in 8 of the 50 states. In the

How Exercise Affects Mental Health

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Sandy Slade

Our bodies really are a machine; an amazing and organized system that works hard to keep us going. Every function of our circulatory, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and other systems work in

20 Hard Facts About Childhood Fitness

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Sandy Slade

As children engage in activities that get them moving, there are significant side effects that participating has on their lives. From better health overall to long-term benefits into adulthood, childhood

How Group Exercise Benefits Students (Secrets to Success)

Posted on January 10, 2020 by Sandy Slade

Exercise takes many forms, but for students, the best option is a group exercise. There is no argument against solo activities and lone forms of exercise, like weightlifting or exercise

How Sports Cultivate Healthy Lifestyles and Life Lessons

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Sandy Slade

There’s a reason that sports matter to us, and it’s not just about winning. Sports are good for the mind and body. First, playing sports feels good, win, or lose.