Education is a controversial topic that sparks intense debates throughout the world. It’s a common theme for politicians to use during elections to sway voters to their sides. One of the key points most people focus on is budget cuts, which often require schools to remove programs like music, computer lab, and even physical education. Let us teach you about the importance of physical education, which is a crucial component of a proper school curriculum.
What is Physical Education?
Physical education is a class that schools offer that helps children get exercise during school hours. In this world of technology, many children spend more time on devices than they do being physical, which isn’t healthy. Children need at least sixty minutes of activity each day. I’m sure many of you have seen the various advertisements for Play 60, a program hosted by the NFL (National Football League) and the American Heart Association.
Many kids participate in extracurricular team events like football, baseball, track, band, cheer, or even tennis. For these kids, it’s not as bad if they don’t have a physical education class, because they’re already getting exercise. But PE is about more than just being physical.
Physical education classes also teach children how to eat correctly. Many kids aren’t getting a healthy diet, which has led to an increase in obesity throughout the country. Fast food is cheap and easy, so why bother with taking the time to fix something healthy?
Who Needs Physical Education?
Experts recommend that everyone should exercise regularly and eat a proper diet if they want to stay healthy. Many adults struggle with trying to make lifestyle changes to live a healthier life. Hard habits are hard to break. You’ve heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” It’s not true, but you do have to put in more work.
Children are more open to molding when they’re younger, and their minds are still developing. If you start them on the right path early, they will find it easier to continue the habits throughout life rather than struggling to start them when they’re older. There are plenty of things I wish I’d never started when I was younger, such as smoking and being addicted to caffeine.
Physical education gives kids the chance to interact with people the same age. This is a crucial step for child development. Some children don’t have siblings, which means they might not have experience with issues like sharing or thinking of others.
When children learn to work together as a team, they build better social skills, such as:
- Having empathy
- Learning compassion
- How to communicate
- Loyalty
- Friendship
- Sharing
- How to work together
Importance of Physical Education
Many people dismiss physical education class as a waste of funds, which could be put to use for more important things. But in reality, PE is a necessary program for which every child needs access. Many children live in unstable households where they don’t have access to proper care.
Maybe it’s too dangerous for them to be outside getting exercise. Or they spend too much time glued to their phones or video consoles. As a mom of four, I am outraged at the costs of extracurricular activities. I’m currently nursing sore feelings from shelling out $500 just to register all of them for baseball/softball this morning. Not every parent can afford to enroll their children in sports.
And the majority of children don’t eat right. Not that I blame them. How is it that you have to pay $5 for a salad yet only $2 for a double cheeseburger? Physical education classes can help kids learn how to balance their diet correctly, even under strict budgets. Here are some other ways that physical education is crucial for child development.
Physical Education Helps Children Mentally
There are multiple mental benefits that children can gain from access to a proper physical education program. Most people don’t consider how a class that is based on physical activity can affect your mentality, but we’re here to shed light on the situation.
Teaches Healthy Habits
Part of physical education is teaching children about the importance of getting proper exercise. Have you ever tried running after something only to cramp up? Without physical education, kids could severely injure themselves by trying to do something strenuous without preparing first. PE teaches them how to warm up with stretches, so their bodies are ready for more strenuous activity.
Physical education also helps teach children about proper nutrition. Kids learn what kind of diet they should have and different ways to incorporate healthy eating into their daily lives. For teenagers, it’s crucial to develop proper habits, so they don’t battle eating disorders. Youth are also susceptible to self-esteem problems. A healthy diet can help improve their self-image.
Teaches Correct Nutrition
I’m sure you all remember learning of the food pyramid back in school – a picture that demonstrates the various food groups and the recommended portions. Physical education classes don’t just teach children that they need to eat two servings of meat and five servings of fruits and veggies.
These classes will teach children which foods they should eat more of and which to avoid. For example, avocados are now recommended over other fruits like apples and oranges. Most adults aren’t even sure of which foods are better for us. It seems to be changing all the time. If we don’t eat properly, how can we expect to teach our children?
Proper Exercise
If you want to exercise, there’s a method out there that will fit your activity level. You can go hardcore for an intense workout or go slow and easy with pilates just for some soft stretching. For children, it can be challenging to access a private gym or training videos online to help learn proper exercises. Physical education classes help children experience different exercise routines that they can do at home without special facilities.
My youngest daughter frequently gets to do yoga as part of her PE class, after they’ve spent time doing aerobic activities like jumping jacks, push-ups, and sit-ups. My older son, who’s in high school, gets to do weight lifting, up-downs, and suicides. My other son likes to do military exercises to prepare for enlistment, despite the fact that he’s only nine. PE teaches all of these.
How to Work as a Team
In physical education classes, children often participate in team sports like dodgeball, basketball, or baseball. Not all children know how to work well with other kids. Maybe they’re the shy type and struggle with socializing. Or they’re an only child and don’t have experience with working with other kids.
While in a physical education class, all kids have the chance to be part of the team, despite their skill level. This allows them an opportunity to fit in with everyone and to bond with their peers. Many children end up developing friendships based on mutual interests, such as sports. I’m still best friends with a girl I met in second-grade gym class. We both hated dodgeball.
Reduce Stress
Many people think that children shouldn’t be stressed. I mean, what do they really have to be worried about? But the human body doesn’t care about age. Stress can occur for anyone, over anything. Science has proven that exercising can help battle stress and depression, which is a common result of being stressed out.
Physical education classes give children an outlet to relieve their stress while at school. It provides a healthy outlet for them to work off their negative energy, which improves their chances of being able to concentrate. Think about how you feel when you’re trapped in one spot for hours at a time, without the opportunity for a break. Why would you expect your children to have to do it?
Physical Education Provides Physical Benefits
It should come as no shock that PE classes also provide physical benefits for children. Kids need proper exercise if they want to stay healthy. And they need a way to work off pent up energy from staring at books all day. Physical education class gives them both.
PE Class Improves Motor Skills
Not everyone can catch a baseball or dribble a basketball down the court. It takes proper motor skills. For some people, it might be natural to be able to watch a small white ball sailing through the air and have it land perfectly in your glove. Other people might take one step backward while looking up and trip over their own feet.
Physical education classes help kids improve their motor skills, which include basic movements like walking, running, picking something up, turning, and jumping. They learn how to run faster by controlling their breathing and having the proper form. They catch a baseball by figuring out how to keep their eyes on the target and having the correct footwork.
Improves Hand-Eye Coordination
Hand-eye coordination allows you to be able to hit a baseball or golf ball. But this skill also helps you in other areas of your life like driving, tying your shoes, or even texting. When you have strong hand-eye coordination, you have quick reflexes that allow you to respond to what you see quickly.
Participating in physical education classes helps improve hand-eye coordination by exposing children to activities that will enhance their skills. They learn how to swing the bat at the right time, which improves their reflexes. They can bounce the basketball and run at the same time, without losing their balance. And if they’re driving, they can be relaxed and respond to danger faster.
Better Reflexes
Reflexes are a crucial physical skill. If you have slow reflexes, you could end up with lots of injuries. Maybe you don’t move out of the way of something dangerous in time and get hit. That happens to me a lot. Or you don’t move your hand in time to catch a cup that’s falling, and your drink spills all over your brand new outfit. Again, me.
Having good reflexes allows you to be able to respond quickly to stimuli. Physical education classes provide ways for children to improve this skill, so they’re better able to protect themselves. They engage in physical activities that strengthen their hand to eye coordination like sports, which they might not have access to outside of school hours. Some communities don’t have extracurricular programs.
Builds Muscles
Physical education classes give children access to the proper amount of exercise time, five days a week. Exercising helps fight obesity and strengthens muscles. When children are in fit shape, they have better self-esteem.
Strong muscles improve a child’s physical abilities and provide a better quality of life. It isn’t just about looking good in a selfie. When you’re strong, you increase your chances of resisting injury. Your body can withstand more battering, so you aren’t breaking bones from a simple trip of the shoelaces. Yep, me again.
Maintains Weight
With the proper exercise and nutrition, children can reduce the chances of obesity, childhood diabetes, and even heart disease. Pediatricians can help parents figure out your child’s body mass index (BMI), which determines the fat to muscle ratio. Knowing your BMI lets you figure out your appropriate weight. It can also help you figure out the appropriate exercise level.
Many children don’t get exercise at home, so it’s crucial that they are given the time to have physical activity under supervision at school. Having a positive role model to coach a child can help them lose weight the right way, so they don’t end up with eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia or drugs.
Reduces Chances of Heart Disease
Proper physical activity is one of the leading causes of a healthy heart. People who engage in the appropriate amount of aerobic exercises have fewer chances of developing heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. Spending just 60 minutes a day being physical is all it takes. Run, jump, swim. Whatever gets your heart rate up is good for you.
Many kids don’t think of health conditions like heart problems when they’re young because it doesn’t seem important at the time. But starting a healthy lifestyle early reduces the chances of developing problems later on in life. Getting sufficient exercise and a proper diet are the first steps to a healthy life.
Psychological Benefits of Physical Education
In addition to the physical and mental benefits of PE, there are also psychological factors to consider. Childhood is a time of confusion for everyone. There are so many changes that children go through as they grow up. It’s easy for them to feel awkward about their looks. Especially when hormones get involved. Physical education classes can help children psychologically.
Improves Confidence and Self-Esteem
Children need various positive outlets to enhance their self-esteem if they want to develop a healthy personality. With the rising popularity of social media outlets like Instagram and YouTube, children are becoming more obsessed with their looks. But kids need ways to feel good outside of the cyber realm. And they need to understand that they have more to offer than just their appearance.
Physical education classes can help boost children’s self-esteem because they get to show off their skills. If they score, their teammates cheer. If they fail, their team boosts them up. When they know they’re good at something, kids want to participate more often. They feel a sense of pride in their skills and want to continue developing them, so they improve.
Improves Sleep
Many people find it hard to shut your mind off at night so you can get some sleep. For children, it can be even harder. Especially if they’re dealing with stress at school, such as pressure from tests, being bullied, relationships, friendships, college applications, or too many extracurricular activities.
When kids participate in physical education class each day, they’re dispelling all their pent up energy from schoolwork, while also relieving some of their stress. They’re keeping their bodies and minds healthy. And the physical exertion can help them sleep better at night because they’re tired.
Reduces Depression
Research has proven that exercising can help battle mental issues like depression and anxiety. For children, an intervention must take place when they experience psychological distress But many children won’t admit that there’s a problem. Or they may not realize that they have a severe issue that needs to be addressed.
Thankfully, exercise can help. Exercising releases hormones into the brain that help make you feel good. These chemicals, like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, control your emotions, and can give you a spike in feeling happy. When children realize the power of exercise, they find a healthy outlet for their feelings.
Builds Character
Physical education classes can help build character. It teaches children about hard work and putting in an effort. They also learn how to be a good sport and to handle a loss with dignity. These are valuable tools that can be applied to multiple life experiences. Without these lessons, a person could face hardships when things don’t go their way.
Participating in physical education classes can also teach children about honesty. They build morals by winning or losing due to their own work, without compromising themselves by cheating. They have self-respect, which they will apply in other areas of their lives. And often, they get the respect of others.
Improves Social Skills
It can be difficult trying to fit in when you’re shy or awkward. I used to have that problem. Some people just aren’t physically adept, which can lead them to be picked on by other kids. When kids are part of the same team, they tend to side with you, even if there’s no personal connection.
As they spend more time together, bonds can form between team members. Kids can relax and have fun with their peers without being separated by clique or intelligence, as is often the case with most classes. They learn to communicate with each other and how to handle good-natured ribbing and competition.
Teaches Empathy and Compassion
Teenagers can be cruel to each other, especially when someone is different. Gym class can be a time when the less athletically inclined feel awkward and out of place. I used to be one of these kids, so I get it. I wasn’t an athlete, so why should I care about participating in gym class, which was teaching sports? Why would I risk embarrassing myself in front of everyone?
But, I was forced to participate in Gym if I wanted a good grade. And I wasn’t about to let my GPA get ruined from a physical education class. So I started participating. And I realized most people aren’t as bad as you think they are. Many classmates showed empathy for the fact that I didn’t know what I was doing and took the time to help me learn. They encouraged me not to give up when I failed. Physical education helped me learn empathy for those around me.
Encourages Teamwork
Most activities that occur during physical education class are based on teamwork. Not every student is going to participate in extracurricular sports voluntarily, so these children need a substitution for learning how to work well with others. PE class gives these kids a chance to be part of a team while getting exercise and a chance to blow off steam.
These team-building skills that children learn in their physical education class will be useful throughout their lives, as they get jobs, start relationships, and develop hobbies. These skills include knowing how to work with others, how to compromise, and how to listen.
Inspires Their Future Dreams
Many athletes will tell you that they discovered their talent by chance while participating in physical education classes at school. For some kids, these classes are their only chance to participate in sports. There are plenty of times that discovering a natural talent leads to future benefits like scholarships, job offers, and even a chance to go professional.
When children discover their talent, it can open a world of possibilities for them. Suddenly, they have a chance to live a completely different life than they expected. These kids often become dedicated to reaching their dreams, no matter how much hard work they have to put in.
Improves Focus
Many kids struggle with spending eight hours at school every day. I sympathize. None of us enjoy spending eight hours trapped behind a desk while working. It can be challenging to maintain focus when your brain is constantly absorbing new information. And having to stay still for the entire class can make you fidgety.
Giving kids a break in between classes where they get the chance to move around and do something physical helps refuel their concentration levels. They get to work out the kinks in their cramped bodies. They can do something hands-on and active instead of having to use their brains. It reduces stress and makes them feel better, so they’re able to focus easier.
Provides Structure
When children get involved in PE class, they learn how to follow the rules. Violation of these rules often results in being removed from the current activity and instead required to run laps or do push-ups. This discipline follows them outside of the gym and into other areas of their life. They often behave outside of PE class, so they don’t lose privileges.
It also helps them appreciate the value of hard work. They see the results of their work in the mirror and their developing skills. They realize that they can achieve their goals if they put in the effort. And they find support from their coaches and peers, who often motivates them to keep going, even when they want to quit.
Provides Safe Outlets
A kid without a hobby is a dangerous thing. When children are left to their own devices, they tend to wind up in trouble. But who can blame them? When you’re bored, you need something to make you feel alive. Letting kids participate in physical education classes gives them exposure to various activities.
Some kids may think they aren’t cut out for being an athlete. But once they’ve spent time in gym class participating in different sports, they may realize they enjoy something better than they expected. It’s not uncommon to see a kid suddenly discover a love for football or another game after they have to play as part of their grade. These kids can become engulfed in their new world, abandoning all other hobbies. There’s less time for them to get into trouble if they’ve found something they enjoy doing.
Physical Education is a Crucial Part of Education
As you can see, physical education provides students with numerous benefits, not just physically but emotionally and psychologically as well. Children need the opportunity to be able to be active during school hours if they want to have a well balanced education that helps prepare them for their futures. We want to do what’s best for our children, and that means understanding and fighting for the importance of physical education.