This article discusses concepts related to character strengths and positive youth development and how these ideas can be applied to improve outcomes among gifted young people. A theory with roots in public health, The Theory of Triadic Influence (TTI), is discussed with examples applied to gifted populations. Practitioners and researchers from…

The purpose of this article is to describe the nature of the YAP assessment and the utility for enhancing instruction as well as for school-level monitoring and evaluation. Emphasis is on the results from a brief case study that employed the YAP as part of standardized school assessments to guide program planning and school activity promotion…

Part 2 of the article on the proposed alternative PreK-12 physical education Learning Standards introduces examples of specific Content Learning Outcomes (CLOs) under each of the alternative standards introduced in Part 1. In addition, Learning Outcomes are offered that target students' pro-social behavior development, as well as their joy and…

Programs integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) and physical activity (PA) can contribute to positive behavior outcomes and development for adolescent girls. The purpose of this article is to report the development of the EmpowerHER Program curriculum. Specifically, this curriculum describes implementation strategies and activities tailored…

The first Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs (CSPAPs) position statement from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) was released in 2008. It was the first document of its kind to recommend increased school-based opportunities for physical activity. The Statement recommended that schools focus on quality…

This article describes the socio-psychological effects of school closure on school-going urban girls in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It illustrates the life of urban students in Bangladesh during the school-closing time and relates it to their previous normal life. It asserts that the strengths of traditional schools have…

Background: Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect in the world. Medical advancements in pediatric cardiac surgery have led to an increased number of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). PA was discouraged for ACHD patients in the past however, today it is strongly encouraged for this population to remain active.…

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed serious challenge to societies worldwide. To prevent person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus and avoid associated morbidity and mortality, several public health measures have been introduced by various health organizations and authorities, such as social…

Physical activity is essential for children's current and future health, but most do not get their recommended daily 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Schools are an ideal environment for physical activity since students spend most of their waking hours at school. In this paper, we inquire into a sedentary school environment…

Physical activity and healthy eating are instrumental to a child's overall healthy development, resulting in a number of positive outcomes, like better academic performance and lower risk of depression. Yet, most young people are not meeting the recommended daily amount of physical activity, are not eating enough vegetables or fruits, and are…

Background: The health of children is undeniably important. Especially with the soaring epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity, physical health is a large concern. Emotional health is also an area of great significance, because it is essential to overall health. Children's health promotion interventions have been developed and implemented;…

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the Health Eating Active Living (HEAL) United Curriculum and how HEAL United is leveraging their advocacy efforts to help K-12 students in Alabama live healthier lives.

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience lower levels of physical activity in comparison to the general population. While many factors contribute to this disparity, expanding appropriate and accessible programming in settings frequented by adults with IDD deserves attention. One such setting is post-secondary…

In "Rethinking Recess," sociologist Rebecca A. London argues that recess has been overlooked as an essential part of the elementary school experience, with major implications for how well schools serve all students equitably and responsively. Given its potential to support students' social and emotional learning and physical activity,…

According to SHAPE America, quality physical education promotes physical literacy by addressing five core standards: motor skills, knowledge, health-related fitness, personal and social behavior, and values. The purpose of this article is to introduce a physical literacy index, identify resources that could be used to assess physical literacy, and…