HEALTH PROMOTION IN PRIMARY SCHOOL THROUGH ACTIVE BREAKS: WHAT TEACHER TRAINING?

Educational research is increasingly focusing on new areas of interest, including programs and initiatives aimed at promoting health during childhood, reducing sedentary behaviors, and encouraging physical activity, thereby expanding children's learning opportunities. In the school setting, particular attention is given to Active Breaks (AB), which, when introduced within lessons, allow for the interruption of long periods of sitting in the classroom. In line with the main themes of the National Guidelines for the Curriculum (MIUR, 2012), this contribution aims to follow three main directions: combating sedentary behavior; methodologies, classification, and selection of motor tasks and intervention strategies; and teacher training to support the implementation of these practices. Today, more than ever, short physical activity breaks represent a strategy that can be effective in addressing the issues related to poor physical fitness and children's sedentary lifestyles.