Peer Pressure

A random note on peer pressure at school says Peer pressure can be used for good when it comes to physical activity

Maritime Heart Center (MHC) found that peer mentors can significantly influence the amount of physical activity kids have throughout the school day.
The MHC team created a Heart Healthy Kids (H2K ) Lunch program, which included three games that peer mentors could lead during lunch time once every two weeks. At least one MHC staff or adult volunteer was present at each H2K Lunch to ensure that the peer mentors were adequately supported.
"Using positive influences on children to be physically active works," says Dr. Hancock Friesen. "It may be that social reasons for physical activity trump other influences for kids. Unlike adults, they are not as motivated by concern for weight control or long-term health."
Students selected as peer mentors, who were age mates with other team members (grades 4, 5 and 6), received training in organization, positive feedback and team building....

It makes me think of Judith Harris's book on The Nurture Assumption, asserting that the environment that matters (in addition to genetics) is mainly the peer environment. I often think that school should be All About Designing the Peer Environment....
Or then again, maybe not.