“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body; it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Physical education is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting. Physical education is also about sharpening overall cognitive abilities and motor skills via athletics, exercise and various other physical activities like martial arts and dance. Here are some of the benefits that highlight the importance of physical education.
Developing one’s Motor Skills
Being physically active means strengthening one's cognitive processes and sharpening one's skills as a result. Exercising is a great way to keep the body in shape, and help it fend off illness while keeping kids at a healthy weight if they are considerably fit. Exercising does not mean pushing the body to do strenuous workout routines, but also taking part in other areas of physical fitness like aerobics, swimming, tennis, badminton, and the sort. Therefore, it helps to develop motor skills, which allow for safe, successful and satisfying participation in physical activities.
Fuelling Self-Confidence
Physical education instils a stronger sense of self-worth in children based on their mastery of skills and concepts in physical activity. They can become more confident, assertive, independent and self-controlled. During the adolescent period, kids are often being ignored by others. By being involved in physical activity, they can be sure that a dietician could care for their eating habits, or a school counsellor that can advise parents on being more health-food conscious and supportive to their kids when it comes to being more active and outdoorsy. It would build on their self-esteem when they reach a body type that doesn't fall in the overweight category. It helps them to take part in events, be more open to team building activities, gives them a fair idea of how to take care of their bodies.
Develops the sense of discipline
The players are given systematic instructions in physical education programs of schools and other educational institutions. They have to obey the orders of the trainer and the captain. They thus learn obedience and discipline. Outdoor games teach us to bear defeat calmly and to respect the winners. They also promote a spirit of good will and sportsmanship. It also helps students to develop responsibility towards health and fitness.
Benefits and improves mind and body
Physical education do well both to the body and the mind. After brainwork in schools, students generally feel fatigued. In outdoor games in the afternoon, they inhale fresh air and feel energetic. These games give free play to all the organs of the body. Therefore, their health is improved. Outdoor games are played together. It also helps to improves children's muscular strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, body composition and cardiovascular endurance.
Strengthened peer relationships
Physical education not only improves the health but also help children to socialize with others successfully and provides opportunities so that they are able to learn positive people skills. In the late childhood and adolescence, being able to participate in dances, games and sports is an important part of peer culture.
Learning Right and Wrong with Food Types
Parents if not conscious about what they eat, tend to automatically feed their kids unhealthy foods. It is wise to hold parent-teacher conferences about healthy eating and how it is affecting kids and their performance in junior / senior college. Physical education classes also have sessions on healthy food habits and hygiene (which is also another important area). Kids will know from a young age about the right and wrong kind of foods, and how to limit such eatables before they grow in size and not even realize it. Teachers in charge of such classes should show graphic representations of what they speak of, to imprint the idea even more so in the minds of children both young and old.
Hygiene is everything
Physical education classes may not always stress this point, but a lot of them do. It is an important habit to remain clean and fresh every day, where kids tend to be messy and unclean when they are young. Classes stressing on the importance of regular baths, keeping fingernails clean, putting sweaty clothes away for cleaning and so on, are a must in any school. Once they have that drilled into their minds, they will follow it religiously as they grow older.
Support of other subject areas
Physical education is not only good for body and mind but also reinforces knowledge learned across the curriculum. It serves as a lab for application of content in science, math and social studies.
Improved judgment
Quality physical education can influence moral development. Students have the opportunity to assume leadership, cooperate with others, question actions and regulations, and accept responsibility for their own behaviour.
Stress reduction
Therefore, physical activity becomes an outlet for releasing tension and anxiety, and facilitates emotional stability and resilience.
Experience setting goals
Physical education also give children the opportunity to set and strive for personal, achievable goals.
Physical education is an important part of the learning process, and without it we could be lazy, obese, and unhygienic kids multiplying all over the world. Therefore, parents need to take responsibility for their kids as well as those in charge of physical education, when it comes to being and remaining physically active.