Although the benefits of exercise are not unknown for school children in general, the role of physical education in the growth and development of small children is not as well-known as it should be. Taking a look at why PE is so important even in primary school should help us understand its impact better.
Better Mental Focus with PE Classes?
It may seem counterintuitive for some that physical education classes can teach small children to concentrate better, but there is scientific proof to back up that claim.
As it happens, the basal ganglia, which consists of the caudate, globus pallidus, putamen, the substantia nigra and the subthalamic nucleus, are parts of the brain that are responsible for various functions, which includes our ability for performing simple/complex coordinated movements and various simple/complex cognitive learning processes.
Children’s physical education classes that are specifically designed to improve these functions of the basal ganglia cannot just improve mental focus in them, but they also actively help in the development/improvement of various other advanced physical and mental faculties as well.
Physical Literacy Must Begin Early in Students
Physical literacy is an important component of growth for primary school students, which goes much beyond just being a fit kid. It can determine the future of a child in more ways than one, as it is a major personality influencer. To understand the concept, consider physical literacy to be the summary of confidence, interest, physical fitness, primary knowledge and motivation that everyone needs to engage in and remain a part of physical activity in any and all forms. It starts in early school days, is often improved upon throughout a student’s academic life, and is found to be instrumental in shaping their adult personalities positively, as a result of their experiences.
Unfortunately for a lot of schools and physical education centers, they are unable to provide each student in a large class or group with the appropriate level of attention that they need, although they may have physical education classes in the program. Skillastics makes it possible for schools and after-school PE centers to effectively organize each of their classes into a motivating, fun and educative session for even large groups of small children. Paying attention to the actual effectiveness of teaching physical literacy in PE is extremely important, especially in bigger groups, where less active children might be left unattended and untrained for the most part, therefore, failing the program’s goals in many ways.
In summation, it would not be wrong to state that at its core, physical education classes, when properly imparted from an early age, prepares the body and the mind of the child with the concept of physical exercise, and it is an important trigger for healthy physical development as well. It is true that exercise really does not have any age-limits, although it may vary in application, use, and results, depending on the medium, principle, and goals of the program.
