Physical Activity

Physical activity is crucial for improving health and preventing chronic disease. We offer ideas, backed by the latest healthy living research, to help Texans incorporate physical activity and exercise appropriate for people of all ages and fitness levels.

Related Departments: Nutrition

man and woman jogging

Walk Across Texas!

Walk Across Texas! is a FREE 8-week program delivered on a web-based platform to help people of all ages achieve and maintain an active lifestyle.

Learn About
Physical Activity

Programs

We offer numerous free and affordable programs on agriculture and natural resources, family and community health, economic health and youth development. We also offer many volunteer opportunities. Browse the list below.
Program

In the Natural Resources project area, youth gain knowledge and experience in a variety of outdoor topic areas such as water conservation, outdoor living skills, forestry, fishing, and more. Young Texans involved in these projects are introduced to a vast array of educational and fun opportunities to be immersed in the world around them.

Program

The Texas 4-H Family & Community Health Program provides a variety of resources and opportunities to learn about nutrition, interior design, consumer education and more.

Program

A Matter of Balance is a nationally recognized, evidence-based fall risk reduction program that emphasizes practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity.

Courses

Course

This course is intended for facilitators working with learners with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This course is designed to help facilitators prepare their learners for employment.

Course

This course discusses the steps of policy development, implementation, and evaluation. As a result, child care providers will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to develop physical activity policies that promote and support active lifestyles in early child care settings.

Course

Four out of every 100 children have one or more food allergies, which can be life threatening. This course will equip child care providers with the latest regulations and standards related to food allergies in child care settings. Participants will learn how to manage food allergies in the day care and on field trips.

Step Up Scale Down

Step Up Scale Down is a 12-week wellness program based on USDA guidelines and scientific research. Each week focuses on a different topic related to nutrition, healthy eating, exercise, and more to support you in your weight loss journey.

All Resources on Physical Activity

  • Course

    Creating healthy habits is a critical element of quality early childhood programs. This course reviews practices that promote outdoor play and learning. It is aligned with Texas Healthy Building Blocks recognition criteria and was developed with support from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

  • Course

    Creating healthy habits is a critical element of quality early childhood programs. This course introduces the Texas Healthy Building Blocks recognition program and was developed with support from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

  • Course

    Literacy skills are essential to success. Students who enroll in this course will learn about the various components of emergent literacy, strategies for promoting early literacy development in children, and how to create a literacy-rich early childhood environment. This course qualifies for 1 clock hour of credit.

  • Course

    Preschool children are capable of understanding concepts of living and non-living things. Explore ways to support children’s observation skills related to the life sciences. Delve into inquiry-based learning activities to encourage critical thinking. Use STEM concepts to test theories on living things and non-living things.

  • Course

    “Getting the wiggles out” is not the sole purpose of outdoor play. This course helps teachers understand the importance of outdoor play and how to make it a priority. Safety aspects such as playground standards

  • Course

    Developing a strong foundation in mathematics during the preschool years with high expectations regardless of gender, race, socioeconomic or language background is critical for all preschool children. Specific math materials which allow children to explore mathematical ideas throughout the classroom are provided.

  • Course

    Experience a variety of counting activities and developmentally appropriate approaches for teaching addition and subtraction. Explore principles, objectives, and developmental stages of counting and examine ways to support children’s counting in everyday situations. Number and operations tasks for preschoolers are provided.

  • Course

    Circle time, or large group time, is when children come together to learn and have fun, solve problems, and be part of a community. This setting helps children begin to look at the world from the perspective of ‘we’ and ‘ours’. Circle time experiences, transitions and strategies for keeping children engaged are introduced.

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    Classroom management refers to skills teachers use daily to supervise and organize time, materials and activities, while keeping children safe. From the rules and routines to the activities, each component needs to be planned and followed through with children to ensure they are learning through play throughout the day.

  • Course

    Maintaining the health of young children – and setting them up with lifelong healthy habits – are critical elements of a quality early childhood program. This course provides an overview of the Texas Healthy Building Blocks recognition program for early care and education settings that have demonstrated a commitment to promoting early childhood health. It is aligned with the guidelines of the Texas Healthy Building Blocks recognition program.

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