Encouraging Physical Activity in Students

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Physical Activity is important to middle childhood (6 – 10 year olds) because it gives them good self esteem and looks after their holistic health. It teaches our children to make healthy choices with food and to exercise from an early age. As a teacher it is important to role model so children know what is expected of them. In the body of this essay I will talk about why physical activity is important in the middle childhood age and what my role as a teacher is in preventing and addressing obesity. Finally I will discuss ways a teacher could assist in preventing and or addressing obesity.

For middle childhood (6 -10 year olds) physical activity is important for their holistic health and growth. It is important for the prevention of diseases such as: type 2 diabetes, blood pressure/hyper tension, heart disease, strokes and osteoarthritis. (Department of Health and Ageing - About Overweight and Obesity www.health.gov.au>...>Promoting Healthy Weight). Excessive eating leads to obesity, obese children have lower self-esteems and are less popular with peers then normal weight children (Graves, Meyers & Clark, 1998).

Children that have obese parents are more likely to grow up to be obese adults. Children build on their physical capabilities and gross motor skills, elementary children now use running around to play organised games and sports instead of just for the joy of it. They intensify their coordination and speed in running, kicking, catching and dribbling. Once children better their skills at sports it can be very gratifying to them. (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2010.p.161)

Organised sports can be an outlet for exercise; it maintains and enhances physical strength, endurance and agility. It also promotes social development with...

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... River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.

The Role of Schools in Preventing Childhood Obesity, 2004. The state education standard. www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/roleofschools_obesity

Thomas J. Berndt (1992) Child Development

www.realtime.net/anr/10eattip.html

www.wiggleintohealth.com.healthy_eating_habits

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References

Department of Health and Ageing - About Overweight and Obesity www.health.gov.au>...>Promoting Healthy Weight

McDevitt, T.M., & Ormrod, J. E. (2010). Child development and education (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.

The Role of Schools in Preventing Childhood Obesity, 2004. The state education standard. www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/roleofschools_obesity

Thomas J. Berndt (1992) Child Development

www.realtime.net/anr/10eattip.html

www.wiggleintohealth.com.healthy_eating_habits

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