The Importance of Physical Education for Today’s Youth

As we all know, health is basically the most important aspect of life that we must take care of. In the past few decades, humungous peaks in obesity rates all over America have been present. There are many ways to make sure that you and your family members lead a healthy life. Possibly the most effective and fun way of maintaining a healthy body is to partake in physical education activities in school. Mandatory physical education in schools all over America have provided youth with a place to be active and have fun at the same time. For some who might not know, physical education is a class taken in school in replacement for personalized exercise at home to ensure that we all get the physical exercise we need. Most adults don’t have enough time to exercise with their child at home which is why having physical education in school is convenient for the child and the parent

Based on statistics taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 16% of children in the United States ranging from ages 6 to 19 are overweight or obese. 16% of America’s children sums up to about 9 million obese children. This percentage has tripled in comparison to nearly 30 years ago. The childhood obesity rate in children ages 2 to 5 has also increased drastically. Many experts believe that this sudden increase in child obesity is due to the availability of unhealthy foods, inactivity, and a poor eating schedule. The recommended physical activity time children are two and a half hours for elementary children and almost four hours for older children.

With a gradually increasing obesity rate in children taking place, it is important that we stress the importance of being healthy and taking part in physical activities in order to avoid health risk that are related to obesity. Since parents pretty much decide where their child goes and what they do, parents should take most of the blame and make it a priority to make sure that their children learn to be active at a young age. Physical education not only has benefits to health, it is also an excellent way to meet new people and experience things that you have never done before. Increase in technology can also be a factor that is leading to higher obesity rates. A larger percentage of the child population spends more time at their computer desk or playing videogames rather than exercising or playing sports.

Not all videogames are bad. For instance, the Nintendo Wii system has produced a game called Wii fit which incorporates normal game play and exercise. Wii Fit is able to combine fun and fitness in a small package. This unique game system includes programs for Yoga, Balance/Agility, Strength Training, and Aerobics. Wii fit also allows you to track progress, set a steady workout schedule and even create your own personalized caricature that represents yourself. The Wii Fit is a game that can be enjoyed by the entire family and you will see results. Although the Wii fit is an excellent way to stay active, it should not be used as a replacement for physical education.

Another important aspect of physical education is experiencing new things and being able to interact with others and help people out. Typical physical education starts out with a 5-10 minute stretch and is followed by sporting events. sporting events are a way for youth to socialize, make friends and find out what an individual is capable of doing. Being healthy and fit gives a person a feeling of unlimited possibilities and a longer healthier life. It is important that physical education is taken at a young age so that the young can grow up healthy and possibly continue these activities past their educational life.

Possibly the most beneficial results that come out of physical education is having a healthier body. By taking action in physical education classes, you will be able to do more with your body such as run faster, jump higher, lift heavier objects, and perform better in sports. It is important that we stretch before physical education because it prepares our body for physical tasks. Whether you were athletically inclined or not, your overall health benefited from the physical exercise you got in gym class. If you are not good at athletic events, physical education can help make you a little bit better. You probably won’t become a major athlete but you will learn new things and probably pickup new hobbies and activities along the way.

Physical education also teaches discipline, self respect, and sets personal goals. Physical education can mean a variety of things. Weight training, aerobics, yoga, sports, and other activities are a part of physical education. Over the past few years, physical education has cut children some slack. At first, events such as rope climbing and dodge ball were very popular, yet after many complaints and injuries, physical education has become a little too easy.

Based on my research, I found out that in a recent year in California, 77% of fifth, seventh and ninth grade students failed fitness tests. Although there is no single handed explanation for why physical education isn’t as effective as it used to be in youth, it can be due to the fact that a growing number of indoor activities and lack of parental advisory is taking place. In addition to the health benefits and the knowledge benefits that the students get from the physical education classes, the main purpose of physical education is recreation. Students, who are constantly being bombarded with their other subjects in the curriculum often, get exhausted with listening, reading and writing constantly. Sports and other physical fitness activities offered in the physical education class are a welcome break for the students.

Physical fitness is possibly one of the most important activities of leading a healthy and sufficient lifestyle. Physical education endorses the importance of maintenance of a regular fitness activity in the routine. This helps the students to maintain their fitness, develop their muscular strength, and increase their stamina which will in return increase their physical abilities at a vast level Physical fitness helps to teach the importance of maintaining a healthy body, which in turn keeps them happy and energized. Another benefit of exercise is that physical fitness promotes increased absorption of nutrients, better functioning of digestion and all other physiological processes and hence results in all round fitness.

Today’s youth face a variety of growing problems. Physical education teachers are also required to include lessons about the importance of personal hygiene and importance of cleanliness to the older children. By incorporating these lessons, the physical education classes help the students to know the important hygiene practices that must be practiced if the person would like to maintain the health and longevity throughout their lifetime. In addition to this, the physical education classes also cover an important aspect that the children have to deal with at the age of puberty. Physical education classes also inform the older children about sex and safe practice. By using sex education lessons, the students taught to deal with their curiosity and questions about the subject of sexuality.

In addition to the health benefits and the disciplinary benefits that the students may obtain while being in physical education classes, one important part of the class is to have a fun recreational time. Students, who are busy with their other subjects in the curriculum, often, get exhausted with constantly listening, reading and writing in classrooms. Sports and other physical fitness activities that are given in school give the children a break from rigorous work and allows them to enjoy themselves while they are in school.