While the availability of junk food, opportunities for non-academic activities, and new means of entertainment in the form of mobile phones, TVs, and PCs have increased in recent years, the truth is, they’re responsible for a portion of India’s increasing obesity rates in children. The decreasing attention on the health benefits of playing outdoors or engaging in physical activities is alarming. However, it has been proven that more physical education classes with both boys and girls at school will help to prevent further health concerns caused by lack of regular exercise.
Physical education helps students get in touch with the physical world around them. As a result, they learn to interact with people and the environment more effectively. This not only helps them to form healthy bonds and develop better social skills at school but also helps them later in life.
Benefits of physical education at schools in India:
Promotes ethical traits
Physical education is beneficial when it comes to practically incorporating essential ethical traits and values. Students pick up several crucial traits from participating in physical activities that require teamwork like gym classes and sports programs. In some cases, teams from different grade levels play against each other, which can sometimes lead to disputes. However, with skills like perseverance and strong ethics, disputes are often resolved but the lessons remain with them for a lifetime and for good.
Physical fitness
Physical fitness is the key to a healthy lifestyle, which is why physical education classes are so important for young people. By taking these classes regularly, kids can stay fit and agile even under the most consuming circumstances. Regular physical activity helps boost daily nutrient absorption and improves cardiovascular health as well as muscular strength.
Improved academic performance
One of the exceptional benefits of physical education is that it helps in improving your child’s academic performance. Physical activities help students cope with stress better, which allows them to focus more on their schoolwork and increase their grades. When students know how to cope with stress, they are able to make smarter decisions that reflect well both in school and life in general. Due to their improved learning skills, children who exercise grow up to be better citizens for our society.
Development of social skills
Physical Education is one of the most cherished periods of a school day because it offers students an opportunity to hang out with their friends and other classmates and helps them to get to know their peers better. Although the classroom acts as a place for socialization, Physical education is where all the fun activities happen. It helps promote group bonding, and friendship as well as creates an identity among team participants as they work together and meet new people even beyond their way to class! Several essential skills like leadership, team work, conflict resolution and management skills are put to test during physical education or sports.
Helps reduce stress
In India, academic pressure on children is immense. Many schools place great importance on core subjects like maths and English and it’s common for some kids to feel stressed about not performing well in these subjects. This is partly due to the fact that after spending several hours in schools, many kids are forced to do homework at home (which can run into the wee hours of the night) which leaves little time for kids to enjoy doing other things – play sports or pick up hobbies for example. Something as simple as playing a sport can help reduce anxiety levels for your child who is dealing with academic pressures. Playing sports also helps develop emotional health and stability.
Helps increase focus
It’s important to remember that kids too fall victim to the constant stress and pressure of being completely focused on studying for examinations for too long. The same way adults need breaks from their work to refresh and refocus, so do children! So how can you help? Encouraging your child to engage with physical education at school is a good start. Doing something physical may be just the break they need from their books in order to burn up excess energy and suddenly find themselves less likely to act out unpredictably or get restless and fidgety during class.
The benefits of physical education do not end here. Your child can gain numerous benefits from active physical education at school including a cue for a healthy lifestyle, positive behaviour, added nutritional perks and much more. It is for this reason that we, at Marigold International School, provide an exceptionally engaging sports-infrastructure and professional-grade training to help our students lead a better life with ample physical activity at school.
