| Physical activity offers a broad range of benefits, | | | | eating choices can help lay the groundwork for |
| including the prevention of obesity, improved self | | | | improved food choices. Children who eat regular, |
| confidence, and an overall sense of well-being. | | | | healthy meals consisting of a wide range of food |
| Physical education programs within the school | | | | choices concentrate better in school and are less |
| setting can set the stage for how children view | | | | disruptive. Healthy eating also decreases the |
| physical fitness, activity levels, and future health. | | | | chances of children developing serious health |
| Physical education programs also include general | | | | problems early in life and reduces obesity rates |
| health and safety information in addition to | | | | among youth and into adulthood. |
| providing opportunities for students to learn how | | | | Life Skills |
| to cooperate with one another in a team setting. | | | | Physical education also provides an opportunity for |
| A Lifetime of Health | | | | children to develop critical life skills, such as |
| The school setting provides a structured | | | | problem solving, strategy, and working together. |
| atmosphere in which to incorporate physical health | | | | Many team sports require participants to work |
| activities and ideally develop healthy habits for life. | | | | together to achieve a goal. Children also learn the |
| Studies indicate that promotion of a healthy | | | | basics of good sportsmanship and that there is |
| lifestyle taught in physical education classes can | | | | much more to sports and physical activities than |
| influence long-term health benefits such as | | | | simply winning or losing. Sports require training, |
| reduced rates of obesity, heart disease, high | | | | mental and physical preparation, and help build |
| cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. | | | | self-confidence. |
| Perhaps just as importantly, physical education | | | | Mental Health |
| programs can teach students that physical activity | | | | Regular physical activity has shown to have many |
| can be fun. With a broad range of games and | | | | psychological and mental benefits in addition to the |
| activities, children are exposed to forms of | | | | physical ones. For example, regular exercise can |
| exercise that don't simply involve running around a | | | | reduce feelings of depression and anxiety and |
| track. Games and other activities incorporate | | | | promote an overall sense of well-being. The |
| teamwork, strategy, skill-building exercises, and | | | | increased blood flow during exercise transports |
| fun. | | | | oxygen to all parts of the body, including the |
| Nutritional Information | | | | brain, which can help improve memory and |
| Physical education classes are ideal for introducing | | | | reasoning skills. Conversely, a lack of oxygen, |
| basic nutritional concepts to children. Poor eating | | | | which can result from not enough deep breathing, |
| habits are common among many children and | | | | can lead to disorientation, confusion, fatigue, and |
| adolescents; however, a solid foundation in healthy | | | | memory and concentration difficulties. |