What You Need to Know About Physical Education & Outdoor Learning?

August 7, 2020

In our rapidly changing world, how can we ensure that students are active and engaged? Promoting healthy behaviour is key to a child’s development. Physical Education and outdoor learning are only the beginning of creating a responsible and confident young person. Building positive engagement in sport and Physical Education in children from an early age can help them feel more motivated, confident and determined to succeed in all areas of life.

Ways to encourage participation in activities

Parental support
Parents and caregivers play such an essential role in shaping a child’s attitudes and behaviours. Research suggests that families that move together build positive relationships. It can be as simple as taking your child to the park, giving them opportunities to create dances, making everyday chores fun, taking them for walks and exploring your local area. Moving as a family is a great way to develop healthy relationships and behaviours.

Student leadership

In our school, we give the students many opportunities to become leaders. One incentive is the Sports leaders Programme in which learners model positive behaviour, as well as the proactive development of activities that represent the school community. Students are involved in a range of leadership opportunities embedded within the school curriculum and annual events. These include public speaking, representing the school, coaching other students, involvement in community activities as well as working towards their potential in class.

What skills are the learners gaining from sports leadership?

• Increased confidence and self-esteem
• Becoming active role models who are committed and able to work in a team
• Being organised, inclusive, passionate and enthusiastic
• Good communicators and listeners
• Inspirational and influential
• Decision-makers and Creative thinkers

Benefits of being active and Physical Education

We all know that physical activity has many health benefits such as building strong bones and muscles, reducing the risk of health conditions, and cardiovascular health. Still, it has the power to do so much more. It can help manage medical conditions, improve educational behaviour and attainment, reduce anxiety or stress, improve confidence and self-esteem, improve balance and motor skills and can even bring people of all backgrounds together as a team. Most importantly, it can contribute to overall happiness as our brains release higher levels of endorphins; our brains naturally feel-good chemicals. 

Responsibility in sport 

Sport and being involved in a team helps develop responsibility, integrity, leadership, concentration, communication skills, and problem-solving skills. All of these skills are essential tools to help succeed in the future. Being part of a team ensures that these crucial skills are embedded in your child and will help them to strive to keep improving themselves. A survey of Executive Vice Presidents of 75 Fortune 500 companies showed that 95% of them played sports in high school. Also, sports help children manage their time effectively as they balance school work, family, friends and team training. They start to develop responsibility in deciding how to create schedules and manage their time effectively.