HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — Students in Penn State Altoona’s kinesiology program took part in Healthy Kids Day on April 18 at the Hollidaysburg YMCA.
The event is an initiative of the national YMCA aimed at getting kids off devices and active.
As part of the assessment for their KINES 422 Physical Activity Interventions course, students were placed in groups and required to plan at least two physical activities to implement at the event using equipment like a parachute, soccer balls and basketballs, jump ropes, and frisbees. It was then their responsibility to set up the equipment and run the activities.
Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Irene Muir joined her students at Healthy Kids Day to observe and says they experienced firsthand that things don’t always go as planned and activities may need to quickly be modified depending on the age and skill level of who they are working with.
Students also learned how to encourage and motivate kids to engage in active play.
“I enjoyed seeing the students outside of the classroom and in a community setting,” Muir says. “They were pleasantly surprised with the event which was bigger and more exciting than they anticipated. It was fun to watch them interact with the kids. They were respectful, energetic and engaged. I was proud of how they represented kinesiology at Penn State Altoona.”