Physical activity in childhood reduces the risk of developing obesity and other health problems. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education suggests a minimum of an hour of structured activity daily. Gym class incorporates that structured exercise into the school day, but schools often consider PE when cuts need to be made. Learning the benefits of gym class creates an understanding of its value to the students.
Access to Exercise
Gym class gives all students an even playing field for getting exercise. Children with families that don't value fitness might not exercise regularly, and low-income children often lack access to tools that promote physical activity like balls, jump ropes and bicycles. PE class makes up for the roadblocks that some children face at home in regard to physical fitness. In a balanced PE curriculum, students learn new games, sports and activities they might not otherwise experience.
Physical Development
The games and activities in gym class involve different muscle groups and tasks to help the students develop physically. Activities that involve the entire body and large movements like soccer improve gross motor skills. The kids hone their fine motor skills with smaller movement activities like catching balls or tossing the balls toward a specific target. Gym activities help children become more coordinated, improve balance, strengthen the kids' cardiovascular systems and strengthen muscles.
Fitness Knowledge
A quality gym class incorporates fitness education rather than just playing games. Kids learn about the significance of what they are doing in gym class and why they need to stay active in life. Some PE programs incorporate health aspects for a comprehensive wellness class. Whether a child exercises at home, he won't always get the instruction aspect that he receives in gym class. PE teachers also perform evaluations and assessments of the students and their fitness knowledge.
Focus
Gym class takes away from class time, but it also gives the students a break that could benefit them when they return to the classroom. After sitting for long periods, PE gets the kids moving for an energy boost. Kids are often able to better focus after a session of physical activity. The physical activity also offers a mood boost for the students.
References
- Discovery Health: A Gym Class a Day Keeps the Doctor Away; John Whyte; 2010
- "USA Today"; Do Schools Need More PE Time to Fight Obesity?; Nancy Armour; 2009
- National Association for Sport and Physical Education: Active Start: A Statement of Physical Activity Guidelines for Children From Birth to Age 5, 2nd Edition
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