Elementary Physical Education

Parents are now beginning to realize that elementary physical education is an essential part of their child’s school life, especially if they want their child to remain fit and healthy. But physical activity can also be beneficial for a child when it comes to developing both mental and physical health. In recent research carried out, it may even well help a child in improving the amount of things that they learn.

All elementary physical education programs are now aligned with the National Standards of Physical Education as well as with the Standards of Learning. It is through these lessons that a child will develop physically and gain the knowledge as well as the skills and be confident to enjoy physical activity as they grow older. Today children who are at stage K5 in their education at elementary school must attend a minimum of 1 PE (physical education) class each week.

Certainly most elementary schools’ PE classes will consist of games, dance, gymnastics and other fitness activities. Each student will be taught these skills in an environment which is both safe, secure and positive. Plus each set of skills can be performed by the children according to the abilities that they have so some may find that the level they are at is difficult for some of the other children within their class. Each child will be evaluated separately in relation to the skills and learning they have already gained as well as what stage of development they are at for their age and what is appropriate to the grade they are in at school.

Unfortunately in recent years the amount of elementary physical education that children are taking part in has declined in cost-cutting efforts. Because of this, there has been an increase in the number of children who are now considered to be overweight or obese. It is therefore the opinion of many fitness experts that such lessons should be altered and more emphasis placed on teaching the children about the benefits to be gained from using physical activities throughout their life rather than on team sports. This should then help to reverse the situation in relation to our children becoming couch potatoes and instead becoming more healthier and fitter and so hopefully will live longer than those that do no form of physical activity whatsoever.