Promoting student well-being through physical activity in schools: Advancing beyond traditional education

Physical activity within the school context encompasses various opportunities through which students engage in physical exercise during the school day, such as physical education classes, recreational periods, and extracurricular sports. The significance of physical activity in schools is highlighted by the numerous benefits it offers for students' physical and mental health, academic achievement, and overall well-being. Research underscores the correlation between physical activity and enhanced academic performance, lower obesity rates, and improved mental health, yet numerous students remain insufficiently active. Challenges such as limited opportunities for physical activity, insufficient recess time, and an academic-centric educational approach contribute to this issue.

This Research Topic aims to explore the myriad ways in which schools can implement and prioritize physical activity, ensuring it becomes an integral aspect of students' daily lives. By addressing key questions such as the impact of physical activity programs on academic performance, the effectiveness of school-based interventions, and the role of school policies, the research will assess strategies for promoting comprehensive student well-being. The association between physical activity and mental health, social development, and long-term physical activity habits will also be critical areas of investigation.

To gather further insights into how physical activity can become a cornerstone of educational systems worldwide, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• The impact of physical activity programs on the academic performance of school-aged children
• Examine the effectiveness of school interventions to increase physical activity levels in children
• The relationship between physical activity levels and mental health in school-aged children
• Examine the influence of school policies and facilities on physical activity levels in children
• The role of physical education in promoting lifelong physical activity habits in children
• Investigate the impact of technology use on physical activity levels in school-aged children
• Examine the effectiveness of community-based approaches to increasing physical activity levels among school-aged children
• The impact of socioeconomic status on physical activity levels among school-aged children
• The relationship between physical activity levels and body weight in school-aged children
• Investigate the impact of school physical activity programs on reducing childhood obesity

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: physical activity, sports in school, promoting PA, school policies, sports

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.