The Benefits of Physical Education
Physical education programs can help children physically by:
• reducing the risk of heart disease. It can counteract the 4 major risk factors of coronary heart
disease, obesity, inactivity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.
• improving physical fitness. A good program improves children’s cardiorespiratory endurance,
muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility.
• making stronger bones. Regular physical activity increases bone density to create stronger bones
• helping in weight regulation. A good program can help children regulate their weight by burning calories.
• promoting healthy active lifestyles. Physical education develops motor skills and sports skills to promote health and fitness throughout life.
The mental benefits of physical education are:
• improved academic performance. Studies have shown that when IQ’s are the same, children who have daily physical education classes tend to get higher grades than children who don’t.
• increased interest in learning. Regular physical activity makes children more alert and more receptive to learning new things.
The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance recommend students in grades 1-5 should take physical education for at least 30 minutes a day and that students in middle school and high school should for 40-50 minutes a day.
Reprinted with permission “Quality P.E.” NASPE