Beyond the Classroom: Physical Activity

I haven’t always been very intentional about my physical health. When I worked at an all-boys school in Lima, Peru, I would occasionally play on the faculty soccer and basketball teams, join in on basketball practices, and play around at recess. But I didn’t have a consistent practice of staying active.

When I returned to the U.S.—before coming to Richmond to work at Seven Hills—my lifestyle didn’t lend itself to staying active. I knew that coming to Seven Hills, a school that values physical activity (a trait that I admired in the school), meant that I needed to build new habits. So, I challenged myself to run every day for a year to see if I could make something stick and haven’t stopped.

I set lofty goals for myself and continually look for ways to challenge myself through what  Sabrina Little—a Philosophy professor, ultramarathoner, and author—calls  “performance-enhancing virtues” (while minimizing performance-enhancing vices). This personal shift wasn’t just about improving my own well-being and character; it was also about becoming better at my role at Seven Hills. If you’ve been on a tour or heard about our school breaks, you know that faculty are encouraged to play in games with the boys. We do this because we believe it’s a great way to build relationships with our students. Additionally, research shows that adult engagement in recess is the strongest predictor of student participation in physical activity. If we want our boys to be active, we have to be active with them.

But at Seven Hills, physical activity and healthy living aren’t just limited to recess and P.E. Our academic program and co-curricular activities are intentionally designed to integrate movement into the school day. Our furniture, classroom activities, and some of our academic offerings provide spaces for students to actively learn, try new sports, and become more engaged in the class. 

Earlier this month, we had the honor of being recognized as the School of the Year at the Active RVA Award celebration. The Sports Backers’ Active RVA Certification and Awards program highlights schools and employers in the Richmond region that implement innovative programs to promote physical activity. It’s incredibly rewarding to be recognized for something we put so much thought into.

This intentional approach to physical activity and new habit formation is something that we work hard at and encourage at Seven Hills. And it’s something that parents can support at home as well. Helping kids build positive habits around physical activity doesn’t have to be complicated—it starts with modeling an active lifestyle, creating opportunities for movement, and keeping it all fun and positive. 

Here are some ways you can help encourage positive physical activity at home:

Unstructured play

One key element is the importance of unstructured play. Middle school boys thrive when they have opportunities for movement that are developmentally appropriate. Giving them the freedom to move between activities allows them to explore different forms of play and physical engagement. Parents can encourage this by allowing their sons to engage in open-ended play at home—whether it’s running around in the backyard, climbing trees, or building forts. Providing simple materials like balls, jump ropes, and even cardboard boxes can inspire creativity and movement. 

Involving movement in quotidian tasks

Movement should also be part of everyday learning. At home, this could mean encouraging boys to stand while doing homework, take breaks to stretch, or even use movement-based learning tools like balance boards or fidget bands on chairs. Making movement a natural part of studying can help them stay engaged and focused, just as it does in the classroom.

Belonging to a team

Belonging to a team fosters discipline, accountability, and teamwork, and parents can support this by encouraging their sons to participate in sports or physical activities that interest them. Whether it’s an organized team sport or something more individual-focused like swimming or track, the key is to find something they enjoy and commit to it. Setting realistic expectations and goals for participation and effort, rather than performance, helps children develop confidence and resilience.

Creating healthy habits

Creating healthy habits starts with routine. Parents can model an active lifestyle by incorporating movement into family life—going for evening walks, biking together, or planning weekend hikes. It’s also helpful to introduce boys to a variety of physical activities, so they can find what they enjoy most. Family discussions about the importance of staying active, eating well, and getting enough rest can reinforce these habits and set the foundation for lifelong health.

At Seven Hills, we believe movement isn’t just an extracurricular activity—it’s a fundamental part of how boys learn, grow, and connect. Parents play a crucial role in reinforcing this mindset at home. By making physical activity a natural and valued part of daily life, we can help boys develop habits that will serve them well into adulthood.