Most of us understand why we chose to become physical education teachers – I know some of us chose this direction and for others, the direction chose them! The point is most of us will not still be involved in teaching pe, if we did not want to? We realise that physical education and school sport is a crucial part of a well-rounded primary school education. In order to keep children engaged and motivated, the physical education activities must be fun and highly interactive. However, creating an enriching environment can be challenging for schools and teachers.

We have now moved in a direction where physical education is a serious form of learning, unlike other types of movement, such as free play. Although it can, and should be fun, its goal is to help children learn about their bodies while fostering good health, self confidence, and social and cognitive development. One of the primary benefits of physical education and sport in the primary schools is that they can help set up a lifelong habit of regular exercise.

However, making physical activity fun for students is just one part of an effective physical education program. In order for children to fully benefit from physical education and sport, they must be told why they are taking part in it. Running around and getting exercise is important, but it is just one part of true physical education. Teachers should include cognitive learning instruction. In my mind, it is clear that the primary goal of sport for young children should not be winning. Instead, it should be laying the foundation for accepting personal reasonability for a lifetime of physical activity.

Any comments?