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importance of physical education in primary schools
importance of physical education in primary schools
physical activity for children essay
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Physical activity is crucial for a child’s development and lays the foundation for a healthy and active life. Children are becoming overweight and obese due to poor food choices and an increasing sedentary lifestyle, leading to physical, social and behavioural health issues. High calorie food and increased indoor activity, such as watching television or computer games, are fuelling this unhealthy lifestyle epidemic. Increasing physical activity in middle childhood (8-12yrs) is a crucial component in addressing and preventing this crisis, and it is believed that schools in conjunction with teachers have a large role to play in its promotion.
Research has shown that obesity has increased over the last 20 years in Australian children aged 7-16 years. Poor nutrition and lack of physical activity is seen as the leading cause, (NSW Health/SPANS, 2006).
Children who are overweight or obese are likely to suffer serious social and behavioral issues (i.e. bullied and teased at school), as well as poor fitness
levels, body image issues, increased prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, heat intolerance, breathlessness on exertion, tiredness, flat feet and sleep problems leading to academic difficulties, (Covic et al, 2007). Several studies have also suggested that cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle behaviours track from childhood and adolescence to adulthood, (Shilton & Naughton, 2001).
Regular physical activity in middle childhood produces a positive effect on all stages of their development. Physical exercise helps to build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints, improve posture, balance and flexibility, enhance coordination skills as well as develop efficient heart and lung functioning. It also benefits a child’s social skills,...
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... Strategies (4-7), 2007. ISBN-13 978 0 7307 4208 1. Retrieved from http://www.det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/physicalactivity/detcms/navigation/teaching-and-learning-support/fundamental-game-strategies--4-7-/?page=2&tab=Main#toc2
Western Australia. Department of Education and Training, Curriculum Framework: Learning Statement for Health and Physical Education, NEW Choose Active Transport Resource. March 2011. Retrieved from http://www.det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/physicalactivity/detcms/navigation/teaching-and-learning-support/choose-active-transport--k-7-/?oid=NewsItem-id-11402352
World Health Organization, (2011). Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. Physical Activity and Young People. Recommended levels of physical activity for children aged 5 - 17 years. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_young_people/en/
The overall rate of obesity for children comes in at 17 percent, or about 12.5 million obese children in America today (Doheny 1). The number of children who are obese is growing at a fast rate. Most cases of childhood obesity are caused by eating too much and exercising too little. Extra weight puts children at a risk of serious health problems; such as, diabetes, heart disease, and asthma (Smith 1). Although obesity can be prevented, it has become a growing problem among children due to several factors that lead to health problems.
have a higher rate of dying from other leading causes of death such as heart attacks or cancer. Someone that is obese and overweight can also develop cardiovascular disease, respiratory failure or die from a stroke. Children can also have mental problems like suffering from depression, have low self-esteem and can exclude themselves due to other children putting them down and making them feel insecure. Medical experts say ...
Getting involved in any school or at home physical activity helps promote a healthy habit and reduce the risk of heart disease .Children can play on the playground and by going up and down the slice help’s weigh management. When my son was 3 years old, I fel...
It decreases our normal body function. Obesity affects psychologically and physiologically. It may affect the health of the children. The obesity complication can include cardiovascular disease, poor self-esteem, hypertension, respiration problems, and GI problems. If obesity is not managed in childhood, then it leads to the negative health consequences in adulthood. In the cardiovascular system, many obese children suffer from Hypertension, Coronary heart disease, and Dyslipidemia. Obesity causes increased blood volume and cardiac output. This leads to cardiovascular problems. Obese children have more risk of musculoskeletal problem. Obese children are more likely to have fractures, impaired mobility, and musculoskeletal discomfort. This may be because of lack of physical activity. Obese children find difficult it to breathe while walking. If they walk only for 5 minutes, then they feel tired and breathless. There is more prevalence of asthma in overweight children. Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most important risk factor which is associated with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease. In female obesity, there is a high chance of mensural abnormalities like amenorrhea, and metrorrhagia. They should be taken to the specialists early to preserve their fertility. Obese children might have early puberty. Self-esteem is the factor which make us confident and comfortable to interact with
Movement and physical exercise is key to a child’s life, especially in developing necessary skills to function throughout their whole life. Recess can be a time where children are able to explore how their bodies can function. Student’s can learn and apply skills like bouncing, throwing, catching, running, skipping, and the list may keep going on. Research has even shown that children who are more physically active in school are more likely to be physically active at home. Children who don’t have the opportunity to be active during the school day don’t usually compensate during after-school hours.
"The Benefits of Exercise and Sports Participation for Kids." EDietStar. Web. 15 Feb. 2010. .
Dr. Macnair T. Childhood Obesity. BBC Health News. Accessed on March 4, 2011 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/obesity2.shtml
L., W. R. (1997, Sept 26). Youth Fitness. Retrieved Jan 10, 2011, from CQ Researcher7 841-864: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/
Participation in physical activity, can lead to a healthy lifestyle, for primary school students. Caspersen, Powell and Christenson (1985) define activity as “any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure… In daily life, [it] can be categorised into occupational, sports, conditioning, household or other activities”. Physical activity is directly related to a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle “is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (World Health Organisation, 1948). With healthy lifestyles rapidly decreasing (Fleeton, 2011), the demand for students to participate and be taught the importance of physical activity capturing bad habit before they arise. This essay will argue that physical activity, has a significantly positive effect on the lifestyle of primary school students by highlighting that physical activity improves physical fitness and behavioural skills, promotes fitness outside the classroom and impacts positively on classroom performance. Physical activity also positively impacts on students psychological and physiological factors.
Physical activity enhances children’s quantitative development within middle childhood, supporting growth toward healthy strong people, physically and psychology. Middle childhood is documented as being between the ages of six to ten years old. A lack of physical activity affects children across all areas of development; it is not restricted within the domain of physical development. Discussed within are the expectations of motor development within middle childhood, the benefits of physical activity and the consequences of prolonged inactivity. Along with how a student’s physical development facilitates or restricts development in other areas and how the learning environment can accommodate and support the physical needs of students.
Gabbard, C., LeBlanc, B., & Lowy, S. (1994). Physical Education for Children: Building the Foundation, 2nd edition. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, inc.
Siedentop, D. Introduction to physical education, fitness, and sport. 7. McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages, 2009. Print.
Did you know that “one out of three children in the United States is considered overweight”? (Miller). In today’s society, more and more students are gaining excessive weight which can lead to even worse internal problems like heart disease which can drastically shorten their life span. With school budget cuts and limited time available for the class, physical education has slowly become more obsolete in today’s educational requirements. If students cannot get the minimum time needed to burn the extra energy found in today’s foods and drinks, the extra fat adds up, and can create a buildup extra weight. With the rise of obesity, simply learning healthy eating and exercises can lead to a better life style later on in life. If physical education
“Children who exercise regularly have higher levels of self-esteem.” (Brown, W.J. & Brown P.R., 1996, p19). Teaching Physical Education can have immediate health benefits as it helps normalise body weight and body composition. Physical activity also promotes positive mental health. Both immediate outcomes may be useful in motivating physical activity practices so that they have long term benefits. One of the main benefits of physical activity is that “it keeps children involved and that it invariably makes you feel good.” (Brown, W.J. & Brown P.R., 1996, p19). Getting the correct amount of Physical activity in school hours will decrease the rates of obesity and will reduce the risk of diabetes, asthma, heart disease and other health related illness’. Regular exercise for children also helps their cardiovascular health and bone development. There is also evidence that Physical Activity has a positive effect on mental health in children, including reducing anxiety and depression and improving their mood. However, there is some evidence that for children who don’t enjoy Physical Education it can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and
Physical education provides a variation of motor skills aimed to enhance the physical, mental, social and emotional development. The obesity statistics of 2009 quantified that childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980 and in addition to concerns regarding chronic diseases, overweight and obesity incidences have even led to poorer levels of academic achievement (Taras & Potts-Datema, 2005). Additionally, in order to teach students the importance of preventing these ailments, those who oppose the amount of time in physical education or want to cut it out altogether should reconsider. Instead, time in physical education should be as equal as core subjects are seen. Physical education can help children in the classroom as well. The physical educator can incorporate math or science in to their lessons. If they are jump roping, they can skip count...