Is Your Child Getting Enough Physical Education?

Here's how you can make sure your child is getting enough physical education. With concerns about childhood obesity weighing on the minds of parents and educators, physical education is taking on new importance. The good news is that P.E. class is still part of most kids’ school experience.

It's quality Physical Education. And we have compelling research showing all the benefits of PE. Read below to learn about the best kept secret in America, Physical Education.

Students who are active in physical activities like basketball, volleyball, martial arts and running just to name a few are more confident with themselves according to most social school studies. It's probably because of the self discipline and dedication to excel in a sport that brings out the best in students.

Here's just one example of how physical education can cross academic lines: I teach in Arlington and several years ago, a series of sniper shootings hit the Washington, D.C. area. Schools were temporarily locked down-no students outside for HPE, recess or any reason.

School gym class offers a mental break from academics, team-building skills and exercise for screen-obsessed kids. So why is phys ed being dialed down at local schools? "I'm so glad I have gym class tomorrow," said my fifth grader as she was helping me clear the dinner table. "Why is that?"

For decades, physical education has been a school curricula component. These days, however, a lot of schools have had to cut back on physical education due to financial constraints. Other schools have eliminated or shortened their requirements for physical education to raise the test scores of students by spending less time in the gymnasium and more time in the classroom.

Quality physical education programs are needed to increase the physical competence, health-related fitness, self-responsibility and enjoyment of physical activity for all students so that they can be physically active for a lifetime. Physical education programs can only provide these benefits if they are well-planned and well-implemented.

The Importance of Physical Education and Recreation in Schools Physical education is an integral part of the total education of every child in kindergarten through grade 12. Quality physical education programs are needed to increase the physical competence, health-related fitness, self-responsibility, and enjoyment of physical activity for all students so that they can be physically active for a lifetime.

Cutting PE out of schools is backfiring in a big way, contributing to our rampant childhood obesity epidemic and actually hindering students from top success in academic classes like science, math, and English. Children should get about an hour of physical activity per day, something that's vital to their growing bones, joints, fascia, and muscles.

The benefits of Physical Activity in Schools Most classrooms have at least one impulsive child and in my experience some classes have more than one. These impulsive children are frequently in trouble and display sincere regret for their actions... repeatedly. When teaching, I wondered, "Will they ever learn?"

"Nike seeks to increase the quality and quantity of PE in schools. The realities of the times we live in demand that we strengthen physical education in our schools and ultimately bring full-time PE, taught by PE specialists, back to every school in the United States" ( Nike Raises Awareness of the Importance of Physical Education in Los Angeles Schools Through..., 2007).

The physical education teacher has unique responsibilities in the school physical activity program to ensure that students are physically active within the physical education class. The physical education teacher also has the responsibility to help direct and guide opportunities for physical activity within the school outside the physical education class.

A look at the importance of physical education to young people in schools through physical activity and development, social skills and enjoyment levels.

For the overall development of a child, along with academics, which develop his mind, a child should participate in physical activities such as sports and exercises as well. Although, researches in the field have shown that physical education should be made mandatory in schools as it develops positivity, improves the attitude and fitness of the students, yet, due to various constraints, many schools are not really able to implement this.

Dr. Thom McKenzie explains why it's so important for children to have quality Physical Education in school. Support this issue in your community by sharing this video with your child's teachers, school board members and administrators. -P. E. is the only time in school we get to be active, learn to move, and get fit.

Do you worry that physical education classes take precious time away from your kids' studies? Then you should know what the research shows. According to a 2010 CDC review of 50 studies spanning 23 years, children who are physically fit and active often do better in the classroom than those who aren't active.

Physical Education Program Philosophy Physical education is a unique and important component of the total school program. Physical education provides the physical component of a total education facilitating health maintenance and physical vital-ity. It is only physical education that contributes to physical develop-ment while integrating the emotional, social, and intellectual compo-nents that develop the whole child.

There are many benefits students receive from high school physical education classes that contribute to students becoming responsible adults who are aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. High school students retain a higher level of knowledge related to overall health that help them make educated decisions regarding their own health,...

Children who are physically fit absorb and retain new information more effectively than children who are out of shape, a new study finds, raising timely questions about the wisdom of slashing physical education programs at schools.

Fitness Concerns For This Generation The Western World has experienced lavish developments in technology and food production in the past century. However, widespread food accessibility has been accompanied by a marked increase in obesity rates, for children and adults.

The majority of children in the United States do not meet the recommended weekly amounts of physical education and physical required to maintain good health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that elementary school age childrenget 150 minutes of physical education a week.

A number of crucial components to the delivery of quality education have been identified by UNICEF. These include sport and opportunities for play, consistent with the rights of the child to optimum development. Despite recognition of the positive impact sport has on education and child development, physical education is being increasingly challenged within education systems across the world.

http://www.sparkpe.org/ - Dr. Thom McKenzie explains why it's so important for children to have quality Physical Education in school and how caring adults can support it. Designed especially for parents, teachers, school board members and administrators. About SPARK: SPARK is a research-based, public health organization of San Diego State University Research Foundation (disseminated by School Specialty, Inc.)

Final project for CAS 100B (Speech & Writing). "The Importance of Physical Education" shows how Physical Education is treated in America and some of the reasons why it is so important.

Quality, daily physical education in schools not only reduces obesity amongst our children, but it improves academic performance. With more than 40 years in the field of education, Zientarski has created a highly successful program called the Learning Readiness Physical Education (LRPE) program at Naperville Central High School.