A movement begins at Martin Avenue

In an effort to encourage healthy lifestyle choices, Martin Avenue Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District has introduced a CrossFit Kids program.

Patty Tansey, the school’s speech pathologist, has been visiting fourth- through sixth-grade classes and teaching students simple exercises they can do throughout the day in the confines of their classrooms. She is sharing quick workouts that can be done in between lessons, such as flutter kicks, pushups, sumo deadlifts and more.

The goal is to create more opportunities for movement throughout the day, as research suggests that a child’s learning capacity improves after exercise. Ms. Tansey also speaks with students about proper nutrition.

“It’s teaching them to be turned on to a healthy lifestyle,” she said. “You’re setting the building blocks to making good choices.”