Programs such as BOKS that help children not only develop healthy habits to promote optimal growth trajectories but also promote social and emotional skills that can help them better handle stress, peer interactions, and negative feelings are just what children need and should be broadly scaled. The program’s being school-based and run by volunteers gives it the potential of affecting a large number of children equitably without the need for substantial resources.
Elsie Taveras, MD
MPH, chief of the MGHfC Division of General Academic Pediatrics
Curriculum Offerings
Functional Fitness
Functional Fitness
This 12-week curriculum focuses on getting elementary kids moving while developing a functional fitness skill of the week (ex. squat, push up, plank). Each class includes a free play period, warm up, skill, running related activities, class game, and short nutritional talk.
Fundamental Movement
Fundamental Movement
This 12-week curriculum focuses on developing basic fundamental movement skills (kicking, catching, throwing, striking) and fitness principles (strength, endurance, coordination) through fun activities and games suitable for K-8 students and includes an age-specific nutrition component.
Middle School
Middle School
Targeted at older students, this curriculum “hides” functional fitness skills and concepts within games, relays, and obstacle courses. By combining traditional playground games, typical ball sports and fast paced relay races and obstacle courses, BOKS provides the moderate to vigorous physical activity programming.
Early Childhood
Early Childhood
The curriculum keeps young kids (aged 2-5) active throughout their day as well as teaches them about healthy eating habits. The early childhood curriculum provides younger children a safe, fun environment to practice skills through play, while building confidence and developing lifelong healthy habits.
BOKS Bursts
BOKS Bursts
BOKS Bursts are short 1 to 10 minute in-classroom physical activities created to help kids stay active throughout the school day, energizing their brains for enhanced learning. Bursts can be accessed by BOKS Trainers after enrolling their school, or click the link below and sign up to receive the curriculum in a weekly email.
Yoga and Mindfulness
Yoga and Mindfulness
BOKS and Tara Stiles (founder of STRALA Yoga) teamed up to create fun and easy yoga and mindfulness activities. Designed to activate the body’s relaxation response by breathing deep, matching your breath and body together, and moving your whole body in harmony with itself, these activities are perfect for students of all ages.
Play of the Day
05/29/19
Fox and Rabbit
Format: Divide class into teams, 20 kids each or set up different games. Materials: None, this should be played in a gym or on the field Set Up: Assign 5 foxes, the rest of the group is rabbits Object: Foxes try to catch the rabbits. Details: The rabbits get a 10 second head start to [...] Read More
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