The Multifaceted Benefits of Physical Education Classes

Physical education (PE) is a critical component of the educational curriculum, offering more than just a break from academic subjects. It’s the most powerful (and unappreciated) 'medicine' for present and future health issues - for the body, mind, and spirit. While everyone seems to be looking for the magic pill to improve health, quality Physical Education is a readily available solution. Schools are in a unique position to help students get the daily recommended 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

The Declining State of Physical Education

Despite its importance, UNESCO states that "physical education is in decline across all world regions". In the USA, the average school budget for PE is $764 per year.

Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs (CSPAP)

The Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) provides details about its suggested Physical Education and Physical Activity Framework. This document outlines professional development opportunities and resources to help schools implement the framework. CDC worked with SHAPE America to create a step-by-step guide: Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs for schools and school districts. This physical activity program guide can help you develop new programs, evaluate programs, or improve existing programs. The guide can be helpful to an existing school health council or wellness committee, or to a new committee. This module is designed to help educators create and refine a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program.

Physical Health Benefits

Physical health is the most obvious benefit of physical education. An article published in the Journal of Preventative Medicine and Hygiene titled “Physical Activity for Health” states that regular physical activity strengthens the body’s functions and reduces the risk of various diseases. It improves quality of life and the way your body feels.

Regular exercise is vital in the fight against child obesity. We all know the many health problems that are associated with obesity and how important it is to lead a healthy, active lifestyle. Positive exercise habits that are implemented in childhood and adolescence will likely continue into adulthood.

PE classes usually involve a wide range of activities, exercises, and sports that promote the growth and development of different parts of children’s bodies. PE classes often involve a variety of exercises that require balance, agility, speed, and coordination. These activities help children develop and refine their motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. Sport helps children develop their motor skills and strengthen their muscles. When fine motor skills are developed, children will be more adept at handwriting or playing a musical instrument.

Combating Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is prevalent in the United States - more than 14 million children are considered obese - and that national health problem has gotten even worse over the past two years. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that childhood obesity rose significantly around the nation during the pandemic. Experts say much of that increase can be attributed to schools being closed and children not having access to PE classes and the equipment and areas of play they ordinarily would. Rebecca Dudovitz, MD, associate professor of general pediatrics, says physical education classes are key for helping children maintain their overall health.“It’s fair to say that more physical education time could help fight the obesity epidemic. The need for that became greater after the pandemic,” Dr. Dudovitz said.

Instilling Healthy Lifestyle Habits

One of the key benefits of physical education is its role in instilling healthy lifestyle habits. PE classes provide an excellent opportunity to educate students about the importance of a balanced diet, proper hydration, and adequate rest, along with regular exercise.

Mental and Cognitive Benefits

The impact of physical education extends beyond physical health. Studies abound about the benefits of physical education for students-and as they evolve into adults on their cognitive and social development. Engaging in physical activity and games enhances cognitive skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, and memory.

Evidence suggests that increasing physical activity and physical fitness may improve academic performance and that time in the school day dedicated to recess, physical education class, and physical activity in the classroom may also facilitate academic performance. Available evidence suggests that mathematics and reading are the academic topics that are most influenced by physical activity. These topics depend on efficient and effective executive function, which has been linked to physical activity and physical fitness. Executive function and brain health underlie academic performance. Basic cognitive functions related to attention and memory facilitate learning, and these functions are enhanced by physical activity and higher aerobic fitness. Single sessions of and long-term participation in physical activity improve cognitive performance and brain health. Children who participate in vigorous- or moderate-intensity physical activity benefit the most.

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Students who play sports are better able to concentrate and maintain focus, which has a positive impact on their academic life. This can lead to improved attainment in all other academic subjects. Students who exercise regularly have a better quality of sleep. They are therefore more alert at school and have higher levels of concentration. Physical exercise helps children relieve stress and anxiety. Young people today are arguably under more pressure than ever, so it is vital for them to have an outlet for this stress.

Improving Academic Performance

Data and research shows that exercise improves school performance and, in fact, children have an easier time focusing and learning after they have exercised.

Endorphin Release and Mental Well-being

One of the significant benefits of physical education is its positive impact on mental health. When children participate in physical activity, their bodies release endorphins, which are neurotransmitters known as ‘feel-good’ hormones. Moreover, regular physical exercise has been associated with improved sleep patterns. Additionally, the sense of accomplishment and self-confidence gained from achieving fitness goals or mastering new skills-like riding a bike-can significantly boost a child’s self-esteem. PE helps children to develop their confidence. This can have a positive aspect on all areas of their life, such as their personal relationships and ability to integrate quickly and make friends, to thinking about their future goals.

Brain Health

Given that the brain is responsible for both mental processes and physical actions of the human body, brain health is important across the life span. In adults, brain health, representing absence of disease and optimal structure and function, is measured in terms of quality of life and effective functioning in activities of daily living. In children, brain health can be measured in terms of successful development of attention, on-task behavior, memory, and academic performance in an educational setting.

Social and Emotional Benefits

Socially, PE fosters skills like teamwork, leadership, and communication. The cooperative and competitive aspects of physical education games teach students how to work collaboratively, respect others, and develop a sense of community and belonging.

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Playing sports in groups help young people to improve their teamwork and leadership skills. It also helps to form stronger bonds between peers and promotes a healthy class dynamic.

Developing Social-Emotional Skills

PE standards are around developing social-emotional skills. The importance of PE also lies in the development of essential social skills. By working together to achieve common goals, children learn to appreciate the value of collaboration. They also learn important life skills such as leadership and problem-solving, which come into play when planning strategies for team games. Sports teaches children to have improved self discipline. They can implement this self control in all aspects of their life, from better controlling their emotions to being more self motivated with their studies.

Promoting Positive Body Image

Physical activity promotes positive body image in teenagers, especially amongst women and girls. In this age of social media and societal pressure to look a certain way, this is of utmost importance.

Inclusion and Adaptability

PE classes offer an inclusive environment where children of all abilities can participate and thrive. Adaptable activities and supportive environments enable students with different abilities to participate in and enjoy physical activities. Physical education provides a platform for students to face challenges, overcome obstacles, and learn the value of perseverance. Participating in PE classes requires a certain level of self-discipline and responsibility, from following the rules of a game to taking care of sports equipment.

Personal Motivation and Enjoyment

P.E. classes teach students to be active and help them adopt healthy activity habits. P.E. trains personal motivation and enjoyment in exercise. According to a study published in the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine called “Analysis of Motivational Profiles of Satisfaction and Importance of Physical Education in High School Adolescents,” there is a level of satisfaction involved, as P.E.’s social environment prompts internal motivation and task-orientation. Students are presented with opportunities to enhance their physical ability in a way that bolsters mental capability. P.E. encourages students who are goal-oriented - whether they are athletically inclined or not - to participate. When P.E. caters to internal motivation, it becomes enjoyable for students. In a P.E. classroom setting, some students have goals for improving social standing. Because student-to-student interactions are higher in a P.E. class than in the typical classroom, there are unique opportunities for interacting with peers.

Making exercise fun and exciting is a key aspect of a successful PE program.

Innovative Approaches to Physical Education

Programs such as UCLA Health Sound Body Sound Mind have helped shape a new era of physical education. Providing state-of-the-art fitness equipment and fitness resources to more than 140 middle schools and high schools across Los Angeles, Sound Body Sound Mind has raised the bar on what gym class can look like. From stationary indoor cycling bikes, to cable machines, row machines, and many other pieces of fitness equipment, Sound Body Sound Mind has transformed PE programs at certain schools with resources that provide access for students and support a more holistic approach to health and wellness. Matt Flesock, executive director of Sound Body Sound Mind, says movement and exercise are essential for a child’s overall development.

Bike Riding in PE Curriculums

In recent years, bike riding has been increasingly incorporated into PE curriculums worldwide. All Kids Bike knows that incorporating physical activity into children’s daily routines can significantly mitigate these risks. Activities such as biking not only contribute to physical fitness but also ensure that children enjoy their time away from screens.

Addressing the Issue of Insufficient PE Time

The California Department of Education requires 400 minutes of physical education every 10 days for students in grades 7-12 and 200 minutes for students in grades 1-6. Yet, California ranks No. 28 out of 50 states when it comes to childhood obesity. Flesock noted that the mandates for physical education are not enough to keep children healthy.

“Children need to move 60 minutes a day, every day,” Flesock said. “That is the recommendation. When you look at the California school mandate, that’s not enough time: 400 minutes every 10 days or 200 minutes every five days. That is not equivalent to 60 minutes a day.”

The Role of Parents

Dr. Dudovitz said parents have always had the important duty of making sure their child’s health was a priority. What’s changed over the generations, she said, is that the forces working against a healthy lifestyle have become so strong that it takes a concerted effort to fight against them.

“We see that there is a McDonald's or Starbucks on every corner and instead of getting out, we have Zoom calls and video games. It makes it so easy to fall into an unhealthy routine,” she said. “All of these push against a healthy lifestyle and it takes more of an effort to maintain healthy practices.”

Making sure your child focuses on fitness outside of physical education classes is possible, but requires commitment and follow-through from parent and child. Here are some steps parents can take:

Carve out daily time for physical activity
Use fun competition as a motivator
Incorporate nutrition (a healthy diet reinforces performance and ambition to stay fit)
Encourage your child to join a sports program or organized after-school fitness activity
Limit time on video games and cell phones

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