The importance of sports education in schools

The key to living a long and healthy life lies in the way we treat our bodies. It’s been said that a healthy mind and a healthy heart are important for a healthy life. To stay fit physically one must take part in physical activities such as play a sport, work out in gyms, or anything that gets the heart racing. With our sedentary lifestyle, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for parents to find ways in which their kids can receive their desired daily dose of exercise.

Physical education should be a part of our day to day lives and our children, we must make it a daily habit, and the best way of achieving this is right from school days! When physical education becomes a compulsory subject that students must participate in, invariably they’re working out and trying to stay fit. Apart from the physical aspect of it, physical education extends beyond the sports ground and helps students in the other aspects of their lives as well. 

Physical education in classes is extremely beneficial and crucial for the proper growth and development of your child. Here are a few reasons why -

Why is physical education important?

Physical education possesses several benefits which help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Listed below are some of the benefits one receives when he/she’s into sports activities.

1.    Physical and mental health–Coaches bring out the best in your child. They’re trained to know the kid’s limits. They will plan for physical activities based on their age group without adding stress to their bodies. Physical Education increases muscle strength, increases bone density, and helps improve your kid’s fine motor skills. Regular exercise increases endorphins which interact with the receptors of your brain that help reduce the perception of pain and stress. Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body which helps you feel good and lowers your child’s chances of feeling depressed. Incorporating regular exercise as part of a child’s routine will help them stay fit, increase their immunity and help combat life-altering diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

 

2.    Self-esteem – Playing a sport greatly boosts your child’s self-esteem. Kids who are involved in sports in school have higher chances of interacting with other kids in the school, are more likely to take on leadership roles, respect their peers and learn to adjust with others. Gestures such as a pat on the back, friendly handshake, words of encouragement from your coaches are critical in building self-esteem. Physical education also teaches children the concept of sportsmanship which is great for high self-esteem. Another important part of self-esteem is constructive criticism. We’re not saying to criticize your kid all the time, but when they make a mistake during a game or in life, helping them get better helps build their confidence. This kind of constructive criticism helps keep your kid grounded and confident. 

3.    Social Skills –Playing sports in school is great for improving your child’s social skills. When your kid is playing a sport in school with his/her teammates, this is when they’re going to interact with their classmates, make friendships that may last for a lifetime. When teachers make children interact with each other, they can learn quite a few things such as being better team players, how to work alongside people who don’t agree with you. How to work together as a team by focusing only on the result. Learning these skills is an essential part of life. Children will grow up and move to college, eventually work, where they will have to interact with new people and work with them, even if they don’t like it. Getting your child ready for life outside school is crucial in their healthy development.

 

4.    Better concentration – Playing a sport religiously requires concentration. When you play a sport like gymnastics you can’t afford to lose concentration as it can be detrimental. Students who play sports learn from a very young age to give their absolute best to whatever they’re doing at the moment. While they may learn these skills for physical education, children will transfer these traits onto other aspects of their life like studying which will ultimately result in better grades. 

In Conclusion –

Sports should be an integral part of a child’s life and sports education must be made compulsory for every kid in school. It’s been observed that when kids play sports they sleep better which is great as it reduces the risk of them having insomnia and sleep is crucial for the healthy growth and development of a child. So do not forget to check on the sports education curriculum before taking admission for your kid.