Elementary physical education—building strong bodies and minds

Today, the goal of school-based physical education is to tune into the abilities and interests of all children, including those with special needs. Through the physical education curriculum, children are introduced to a host of games and physical activities that will not only help them become better learners, but can spark a life-long desire to remain physically active and fit.

Children also learn about the benefits of the exercise they are performing (e.g., cardiovascular health, stress management, maintaining a healthy weight, muscle strength, endurance and flexibility), sportsmanship and cooperation, how to exercise safely and how to make healthy food choices.

Physically active children have the strength and physical development they need to hold a pencil properly and form letters and numbers, hold their heads and bodies upright for lengths of time and to make proper eye contact with teachers as they learn. According to a study published in the Journal of School Health, physically active children also show increased concentration, improved test scores in mathematics, reading and writing and fewer disruptive behaviors.

Making fitness a family affair

The National Academies’ Institute of Medicine recommends that children and adults participate in at least one hour of moderately intense exercise daily. Though important, the two to three physical education classes most children take part in at school each week are only a portion of what they need. Children should be encouraged to be active outside of school every day. While busy schedules, limitations of open space and safety concerns may make this recommendation difficult to achieve, there are some easy ways for you and your children to fit in fitness. Here are some ideas to try:

• Play together. Children whose parents are physically active are much more likely to develop healthy attitudes toward being active themselves. Not only are you a positive role model for activity—and getting some exercise, too—you can be assured that your children will be safe as they play.

• Encourage your children to try a variety of activities. Organized sports and games are not for everyone. Singular activities, such as walking, bike-riding and running around the backyard or playground with friends, are also wonderful ways to stay fit.

• Break activity down into manageable chunks. Use the 10 minutes you have before starting dinner for a brisk walk around the block or a quick game of catch. Take the stairs rather than the elevator on the way up to the dentist’s office. With younger children, whose attention spans and stamina can be limited, it is sometimes better to piece together many activities that take short amounts of time rather than one hour-long activity.

• Tap into children’s interests. Take a nature hike with your budding scientists. Encourage your children’s dramatic and expressive sides by dancing to different types of music or using your bodies to act out a favorite story or song. Sneak in some math by using a stopwatch to time how fast they can travel a set distance on foot or by bike.

• Play the active games you enjoyed as a child with your family. Teaching your children what you liked to do as a child will encourage their physical fitness while also teaching about family history.

• Limit children’s combined television, computer and game time (including toys like Game Boys and Xbox) to one to 1-1/2 hours daily. Watching television, using computers and playing videogames limit the amount of time children might otherwise spend with physical activity and sports. If time is tight, consider a school-week ban on these activities to help make room for more physical pursuits. [top]