INDIANAPOLIS — Students at Rossville Elementary move every day for their health, and their physical activity has now been rewarded in a big way.
Tammy Mohler, a physical education teacher at Rossville Elementary, said she keeps her kids moving every single day whether it’s for a quick brain break or an entire gym class.
“We start in kindergarten about the importance of your heart,” Mohler said. "The whole goal is to try to get 60 minutes a day of physical activity. You can sprinkle that out throughout the day. It doesn't have to be all at one time."
MORE | COVID-19 cases dropping in Indianapolis hospitals; Omicron variant 'fizzling out'
That goal comes from the NFL Play 60 Initiative, an initiative that just awarded the school $1,500 to buy more gym equipment.
“Our budget usually for equipment is very low and so when I found out we won, it was exciting,” Mohler said.
The competition was to re-create a workout from the NFL Play 60 List and beef it up with school spirit, something the hornets had no problem doing.
Mohler said on top of the excitement this money brings, she’s hoping this gets her students closer to the goal.
MORE | Rental car company issues $1K surcharge to Fishers man in COVID-19 predicament
“An active child usually will equal active adults later on in life; at least that's the goal,” Mohler said.
That grant money comes from a partnership between the National Football League and the American Heart Association.
The American Heart Association has been in schools for more than 40 years to help young kids develop healthy habits early on in their lives.
Because as we now know, heart disease can affect anyone at any age.
MORE | More than 1,600 students test positive for COVID-19 in Indiana schools
“Developing a foundation of good heart health starts at a young age. We form those habits of what we're going to eat and how we are going to move at a young age. Then those become ingrained in our mind, so it is critical to do that at a young age,” said Tim Harms with the American Heart Association.
The American Heart Association has these recommendations for kids:
- Children 3-5 years old should be physically active and have plenty of opportunities to move throughout the day.
- Kids 6-17 years old should get at least 60 minutes per day of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, mostly aerobic.
- Include vigorous-intensity activity on at least 3 days per week.
- Include muscle- and bone-strengthening (weight-bearing) activities on at least 3 days per week.
- Increase amount and intensity gradually over time.
You can learn more about the NFL Play 60 initiative here.
-
Indiana launches 'Smart SNAP' banning sugary drinks, candy from food benefits
Indiana will become one of the first states in the nation to restrict SNAP food stamp purchases of sugary drinks and candy when new rules take effect January 1, 2026.
Indiana migration balanced for second year in a row
For the second year in a row, the number of people moving into and out of Indiana is greater than the number of people leaving.
Future of I-65, I-70: INDOT concludes ProPEL Indy study
I-65 and I-70 are two of the main ways to get in and around the Indy metro. The city's transportation network is due for a major revamp in the coming years.
IMPD specialized teams recover nearly 2,000 guns in 2025
Newly released numbers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department highlight the significant impact of specialized teams working to reduce violent crime across the Circle City.
