Ambiente escolar na promoção da prática de atividade física em escolas municipais de educação infantil

Abstract

Given the changes in socio-cultural reality, there is a high incidence of overweight and obesity in schools, which has a key role in preventing these aspects by encouraging healthy habits, such as providing opportunities of physical activities for students. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the quality of both environments and opportunities for physical activity in early-childhood institutions in Santa Maria-RS. To analyze the aspects involved in the study, we use the EPAO framework. It is based on a survey and it consists in registering information during a day of observation at school. It comprises six subscales related to physical activity: active opportunity, sedentary behavior and sedentary environment, portable and fixed equipment for games, staff behavior in relation to physical activity, training of staff in physical activity and education, and physical activity policy. It has been observed that there are environments in school suitable for the practice of physical activities with qualified teachers working during classes. However, in most of schools, the practice of physical activity takes place during leisure time, when students are free of guidance and do not take part in an activity structured by the professional staff. Furthermore, many schools do not have time for physical activity in their teaching plans. Thus, we conclude that schools have both environments and equipment suitable for the practice of physical activities, however, teachers neither use them for planning and implementing activities nor for stimulating and promoting physical activities.