Why Children Need Physical Education

Regular, Healthful Physical Activity:

An increasing number of youngsters are overweight and obese. Regular physical activity, as well as appropriate diet, is the best antidote to eliminate the current obesity epidemic and also provide a positive alternative to "screen time".

Skill Development:

In a quality physical education program, children learn the fundamental motor skills that enable them to develop the competence that creates confidence and leads to safe and successful participation in a wide range of sports and physical activities as adults.

Improved Physical Fitness:

Children are encouraged to improve their muscular and cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility.

Reinforcement of other subjects:

Movement can be used to reinforce the understanding of many subjects taught in the classroom like math and reading. Movement is also associated with enhanced brain function.

Self-discipline:

Youngsters can learn valuable lessons about accepting responsibility for their personal motor skill and fitness development.

Goal Setting:

Physical education classes are an excellent laboratory for helping youngsters understand the process of setting and achieving goals, especially physical fitness.

Leadership and cooperation:

Many physical education activities require youngsters to work in groups to solve problems as a team. These opportunities become an excellent laboratory for developing both leadership and cooperation skills.

Enhanced self-efficacy:

The motor domain is especially important to young children who have yet to fully develop their verbal communication skills. Thus, confidence in physical abilities may lead to positive feelings of self-esteem.

Stress Reduction:

A "good workout" helps ease stress, tension, and anxiety and may result in better attention in the classroom.

Strengthened peer relationships:

Sports and physical activity are an excellent way to meet and make new friends. Confidence in one's physical abilities encourages youngsters, and later adults, to socialize more easily and "fit into" a variety of situations.