Reasons to Encourage our Kids to Participate in Physical Education Programs

These days, there is a lot of talk about the importance of exercise and healthy diets for our children. Though we may be more conscientious about the foods we provide our children, it can be hard to get them to be as physically active as we would like, especially with distractions like TV, video games and the internet. However, PE programs focusing on activities that create a positive physical experience for kids are successful because they teach kids to make physical activity a part of their daily lives. There are numerous reasons to encourage our kids to participate in these PE programs, ranging from better health and higher self-esteem to better academic performance and improved spatial and social skills.

Kids’ Participation

While many PE lesson plans include games and activities that require no physical education equipment, introducing new activities and fun equipment into a PE program will increase kids’ motivation to participate. Even for pre-schoolers, a rock wall, tire swing, or knotted rope can help give kids a way to participate on their own level while still being part of a larger group, turning a group game or activity into both a group and individual activity at the same time. However, if you have a child who, like myself, doesn’t enjoy group activities and prefers to focus more on individual activities, there are other alternatives such as running, cycling/mountain biking, swimming and hiking that can be enjoyable as well.

Since these options aren’t suitable for very young children, you can still find ways to introduce them to running by having them practice running in place, or working on their balance by having contests of who can stand on one leg the longest. If you aren’t ready to have your child out in the wilderness just yet, you can still explore and have fun pretending that your backyard or local park is a distant, exotic land and all you need to pack is a little imagination.

Even if you cannot find a way to work some socializing into your child’s exercise regimen, it is still important to get them to exercise somehow. If your child is shy or is reluctant to exercise in groups, it is important that you do not leave them out of the loop. Not only can exclusion from group exercise hinder your child’s physical health, it can also create lasting emotional and social barriers that can create a stigma for any type of exercise in the future. Make physical activity as fun as possible and make sure not to tolerate belittling and bullying during group activities.

It’s also important to provide enough equipment for all the students in a class to use. When there isn’t enough equipment to go around, it means that some of the students will be standing around watching, which promotes inactivity. Many schools in today’s economy are dealing with budget and teacher cuts, so it is important to improvise, and find ways to keep all students involved with a limited budget. If it is not possible to supply enough equipment for all, incorporate rotations into activities so only 5-10 students are using certain equipment at a time.

Better Physical Health

Organized gym classes are an effective way to make sure kids are getting regular exercise, which will improve their physical health. Programs with lesson plans that emphasize fun will motivate students to want to participate on their own. Students who regularly participate in PE activities are better at learning physical skills outside the classroom and will generally lead more active lives. Since it is important for adults to exercise too, it is important that you make sure provide motivation for children to continue their exercise on their own throughout their lives.

Don’t forget that not all children have the same preferences when it comes to physical activities. Growing up, I enjoyed running, but my brother and many of my friends prefered different activities that required less running. From personal experience, I learned that certain activities, like Two-Hand-Touch football not only allowed my brother and friends the ability to engage in a strategic sport which they liked, but it also allowed me the outlet to run. Finding sports that combine physical and mental exercise are a great way to cater various personality types. Although it may present a challenge getting a group of children to agree on a specific type of exercise, planning out exercises with feedback from children not only teaches compromise and planning skills, it can also help to establish a good habit of sticking to a set plan. Children that fulfill their responsibilities often have more confidence in accepting future responsibilities later in life, which is an important lesson for children to learn as they go out into the world as adults.

Additionally, kids that practice regular movement and activity are usually less likely to miss school due to illness, and active children that fall ill will often recover move quickly than inactive children. For children with setbacks like asthma or other conditions, make sure to provide alternative exercises that will be low-impact but still provide the benefits of physical activity. School’s PE classes can promote important body functions—such as moving, breathing, and sweating—that keep bodies healthy and disease free.

Improved Mental Health

Programs that encourage kids to participate work equally well for improving brain function, mental capacity, and self-esteem. Kids who engage in PE programs with fun PE lesson plans usually show better academic performance, have better concentration in the classroom, and have more energy for other physical and mental activities outside school. Far too often I hear people complain about their kids being "too energetic" or "hyper" when it is often a result of boredom and lack of mental stimulation. Giving your kids age-appropriate games and activities when they cannot participate in "grown up" activities will help to provide the mental and/or physical stimulation they need, while also avoiding any confrontations that might result otherwise.

In the long run, kids who learn to make physical activity a part of their lives will lead richer lives in which they maintain healthy levels of fitness that enable them to participate in active social situations. This leads to experiences full of personal meaning. Students who take part in fun physical education activities as children are more prepared to become successful adults.

Amanda is a writer and blogger living in San Diego, CA. She hopes to spread awareness of the importance for children to exercise daily to combat childhood obesity. She writes on behalf of SPARK, which helps provide resources and physical education equipment for educators and organizers that are looking for ways to create fun PE programs for their students.

cc licensed flickr photo shared by msn678