Benefits of P.E.
sourced from pegang.com
Greg Payne primary author Elementary School Physical Education: A Position Statement
Quality Physical Education programs, particularly for the elementary school students, can enhance all aspects of development.
Areas of specific contribution include:
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
Aerobic activity can"...increase vigor and promote clear thinking." in addition, "involvement in physical activity can positively affect grade scores of students in primary schools," (International Society of Sport Psychology, 1992, p.179-180). Regular physical activity also makes children more alert and energetic, which improves their capacity to learn (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance).
HEALTH:
"Nearly 40% of children age five to eight have health conditions that significantly increase their risk of early heart disease" (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance). "A primary benefit of regular physical activity is protection against heart disease." Physical inactivity appears to contribute to coronary risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated blood cholesterol. In addition, physical activity appears to provide some protection against several other chronic diseases like certain cancers, osteoporosis, and depression. Not surprisingly, "...physically active people outlive inactive people..." (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and American College of Sports Medicine, 1993, p. 7) For all of these reasons, the American Heart Association has stated, "Children should be introduced to the principals of regular physical activity and recreational activities at an early age. Schools at all levels should develop and encourage positive attitudes toward physical exercise, providing opportunities to learn physical skills and to perform physical activities, especially those that can be enjoyed for many years (American Heart Association, 1992).
WEIGHT CONTROL:
About 33% of American youth are overweight (Centers for Disease Control, 2012) and percentage of body fat significantly impacts health. Active participation in physical activity increases energy expenditure and helps control excessive food intake and body fat levels. Significant reductions in percentage of body fat have been noted in studies examining the effect of Physical Education programs on the body fat levels of both boys and girls (Vogel, 1986). This is particularly important because studies examining societal trends have shown 54 and 39 percent increases in obesity among children aged 6-17 (Gortmaker, Dietz, Sobol, and Weber, 1987) and a 2 % increase in children's overall body fat over the last 20-30 years (Pate and Shephard, 1989).
PHYSICAL FITNESS:
By introducing children to developmentally appropriate, theoretically based, programs in Physical Education, students learn the principles and skills necessary for implementing and maintain a physical activity regimen. This education is integral to the child's development, as it has the potential improve short term fitness (flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, and body composition) while establishing a basis for the maintenance of fitness through life. "Increased physical fitness improves heart/lung function, reduces body fat, and deceases the risk of diseases associated with unhealthy lifestyles," enhances "school moral and class behavior..." and is"...an alternative to drugs for today's youth (National Fitness Leaders Association, 1990).
MOVEMENT KNOWLEDGE/MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT:
Motor skill development is one of the most efficient and sustainable ways to develop physical fitness. The Council on Physical Education for Children (1992) has "Optimal development of the musculo-skeletal and cardio-respiratory systems is enhanced through children's regular involvement in planned programs designed by professional educators to maximize movement skill development through sequenced instruction." "By conducting regular, vigorous Physical Education programs and helping children become skillful in a variety of movement forms fitness is built" (Council on Physical Education for Children, 1992, p.6). Furthermore, the early establishment of movement skills facilitates the acquisition of more complex skills introduced later. It also allows children to feel competent in movement, which motivates them to be more physically active in their leisure time.
SELF-ESTEEM:
"Self-esteem is the value we place on ourselves and our self-image" (Gruber, 1985, p. 30). According to ta quantitative review of over 100 studies conducted within the last 20 years, "...directed play and Physical Education programs contribute to the development of self-esteem in elementary school children" (p.42). This research also concluded that the greatest gain in self-esteem was found in those children with the greatest need for improvement. The positive attitudes developed through proper Physical Education experiences"...may be the prime determiner of future behavior" (p.42).
STRESS MANAGEMENT:
Like adults, children and adolescents experience stress in their daily lives. Physical activity is positive method for coping with this stress. According to the International Society of Sport Psychology, "Aerobic activity reduces anxiety, depression, tension, and stress..." Studies have also found that physical activity can be "...as effective as different forms of psychotherapy and that exercise have had an anti-depressive effect on patients with mild to moderate forms of depression" (1992, p.180)
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:
Research has found that participation in games, sports, and play seems to be related to children learning to "fit into" their society by learning social expectations. These activities also enhance the child's social mobility, which can affect such long-term endeavors as educational aspirations and achievement. Furthermore, through participation and appropriate instruction in physical activities, moral ideals ans attitudes concerning fair play are shaped (Coakley, 1993).
GENERAL STATEMENT:
The above mentioned benefits can be achieved through quality Physical Education programs. For optimum results, programs should be regular, frequent, developmentally appropriate, success-oriented, and instructed by trained Physical Education teachers. Research has shown that competent teachers credentialed in Physical Education provide the best Physical Education.
According to one study comparing Physical Education specialists and teachers who had not received special training in Physical Education, trained educators provided more and better quality instruction spending, over three times more class time on instruction in fitness activities, and over twice as much time on skill drills. In addition, students of trained teachers were twice as likely to be very active (McKenzie, Sallis, Faucette, Roby, and Kolody, 1993).
Greg Payne, the primary author, of Elementary School Physical Education: A Position Statement, a publication of the California Governor's Council. He is a professor in the Department of Human Performance, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA.
Areas of specific contribution include:
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
Aerobic activity can"...increase vigor and promote clear thinking." in addition, "involvement in physical activity can positively affect grade scores of students in primary schools," (International Society of Sport Psychology, 1992, p.179-180). Regular physical activity also makes children more alert and energetic, which improves their capacity to learn (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance).
HEALTH:
"Nearly 40% of children age five to eight have health conditions that significantly increase their risk of early heart disease" (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance). "A primary benefit of regular physical activity is protection against heart disease." Physical inactivity appears to contribute to coronary risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated blood cholesterol. In addition, physical activity appears to provide some protection against several other chronic diseases like certain cancers, osteoporosis, and depression. Not surprisingly, "...physically active people outlive inactive people..." (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and American College of Sports Medicine, 1993, p. 7) For all of these reasons, the American Heart Association has stated, "Children should be introduced to the principals of regular physical activity and recreational activities at an early age. Schools at all levels should develop and encourage positive attitudes toward physical exercise, providing opportunities to learn physical skills and to perform physical activities, especially those that can be enjoyed for many years (American Heart Association, 1992).
WEIGHT CONTROL:
About 33% of American youth are overweight (Centers for Disease Control, 2012) and percentage of body fat significantly impacts health. Active participation in physical activity increases energy expenditure and helps control excessive food intake and body fat levels. Significant reductions in percentage of body fat have been noted in studies examining the effect of Physical Education programs on the body fat levels of both boys and girls (Vogel, 1986). This is particularly important because studies examining societal trends have shown 54 and 39 percent increases in obesity among children aged 6-17 (Gortmaker, Dietz, Sobol, and Weber, 1987) and a 2 % increase in children's overall body fat over the last 20-30 years (Pate and Shephard, 1989).
PHYSICAL FITNESS:
By introducing children to developmentally appropriate, theoretically based, programs in Physical Education, students learn the principles and skills necessary for implementing and maintain a physical activity regimen. This education is integral to the child's development, as it has the potential improve short term fitness (flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, and body composition) while establishing a basis for the maintenance of fitness through life. "Increased physical fitness improves heart/lung function, reduces body fat, and deceases the risk of diseases associated with unhealthy lifestyles," enhances "school moral and class behavior..." and is"...an alternative to drugs for today's youth (National Fitness Leaders Association, 1990).
MOVEMENT KNOWLEDGE/MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT:
Motor skill development is one of the most efficient and sustainable ways to develop physical fitness. The Council on Physical Education for Children (1992) has "Optimal development of the musculo-skeletal and cardio-respiratory systems is enhanced through children's regular involvement in planned programs designed by professional educators to maximize movement skill development through sequenced instruction." "By conducting regular, vigorous Physical Education programs and helping children become skillful in a variety of movement forms fitness is built" (Council on Physical Education for Children, 1992, p.6). Furthermore, the early establishment of movement skills facilitates the acquisition of more complex skills introduced later. It also allows children to feel competent in movement, which motivates them to be more physically active in their leisure time.
SELF-ESTEEM:
"Self-esteem is the value we place on ourselves and our self-image" (Gruber, 1985, p. 30). According to ta quantitative review of over 100 studies conducted within the last 20 years, "...directed play and Physical Education programs contribute to the development of self-esteem in elementary school children" (p.42). This research also concluded that the greatest gain in self-esteem was found in those children with the greatest need for improvement. The positive attitudes developed through proper Physical Education experiences"...may be the prime determiner of future behavior" (p.42).
STRESS MANAGEMENT:
Like adults, children and adolescents experience stress in their daily lives. Physical activity is positive method for coping with this stress. According to the International Society of Sport Psychology, "Aerobic activity reduces anxiety, depression, tension, and stress..." Studies have also found that physical activity can be "...as effective as different forms of psychotherapy and that exercise have had an anti-depressive effect on patients with mild to moderate forms of depression" (1992, p.180)
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:
Research has found that participation in games, sports, and play seems to be related to children learning to "fit into" their society by learning social expectations. These activities also enhance the child's social mobility, which can affect such long-term endeavors as educational aspirations and achievement. Furthermore, through participation and appropriate instruction in physical activities, moral ideals ans attitudes concerning fair play are shaped (Coakley, 1993).
GENERAL STATEMENT:
The above mentioned benefits can be achieved through quality Physical Education programs. For optimum results, programs should be regular, frequent, developmentally appropriate, success-oriented, and instructed by trained Physical Education teachers. Research has shown that competent teachers credentialed in Physical Education provide the best Physical Education.
According to one study comparing Physical Education specialists and teachers who had not received special training in Physical Education, trained educators provided more and better quality instruction spending, over three times more class time on instruction in fitness activities, and over twice as much time on skill drills. In addition, students of trained teachers were twice as likely to be very active (McKenzie, Sallis, Faucette, Roby, and Kolody, 1993).
Greg Payne, the primary author, of Elementary School Physical Education: A Position Statement, a publication of the California Governor's Council. He is a professor in the Department of Human Performance, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA.