Tag Archives: physical activity

Freedom, Childhood, and School Dresses

Guest Blog from GUA Supporter, Alex Lee, ANU Student, Jasiri Trailblazer Fellow 2018 A Child’s Mind (and body) For me, primary school is synonymous with a feeling; that sensation of pure unbounded freedom, joy, and limitless possibility evoked by the ringing of the lunchtime bell and the running of six hundred feet in a kind of ritualised race across the oval and towards the Playground. I distinctly remember the sensation of a ball of energy and

Read More

Uniform Shop Conversations: Dresses for Girls

I was buying more shorts for my little one and speaking to another Kindy parent whilst waiting in line at the uniform shop. Our conversation was a reminder of just how strongly ingrained in school cultures it is for girls to wear skirts and dresses.  It went like this: Mum:  I wish Aisha* would wear shorts and a top to school.  All she’ll wear is the skort and top. Me: Yes, I don’t see the

Read More

School Uniform Shift Gives Girls the Freedom to Move

Radio Interview Transcript: Patricia Karvelas on RN Drive talking to Principal Elizabeth Rhodes, Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School Melbourne. School Uniform Shift Gives Girls the Freedom to Move Presenter: Haha, the playground where kids get to run around, play games, burn off all the excess energy at recess and lunchtime.  That’s the idea anyway, but some schools are finding that’s not the case for every kid, especially girls feeling restricted by their uniforms.   That’s why one

Read More

Keeping Girls Active – Ditch the Dress

Woah!  A ‘D grade’ for overall physical activity – that’s a fail.  Our school children aren’t getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise.  They’re essentially getting a ‘D grade’ for both overall physical activity and sedentary behaviours.   That’s pretty alarming.  We can agree we ‘must try harder’ on getting school kids to be active.  Active for longer than sports lessons The school day is long and Health & Physical Education (HPE) lessons relatively short. 

Read More