By Fran Cleland, SHAPE America president
An annual event, National Physical Education & Sport Week, is held May 1-7, to raise awareness for effective health and physical education.
Led by SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators, this week is dedicated to empowering all children to lead healthy and active lives through effective health and physical education programs — a commitment known as 50 Million Strong by 2029.
Active Kids Learn Better
When kids are active they focus more, think more clearly, react to stress more calmly, and perform and behave better in class.
That’s why it’s so important that our schools offer well-designed health and physical education programs and provide opportunities for students to meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity before, during, and after school.
Physical education is where kids develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. Offered within schools, it can provide access to physical activity for all students regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, or urban/suburban/rural setting.
Throughout the country, SHAPE America members are leading effective health education, physical education and physical activity programs that make a difference!
The benefits of health and physical education may include:
- Positive relationship with academic achievement and test scores
- Positive association with attention, concentration and on-task behavior
- Encouragement of lifetime healthy habits
- Reduction in childhood obesity
- Reduction in discipline referrals and participation in high-risk behaviors
During National Physical Education & Sport Week, May 1-7 — and throughout the year — help spread the word about the positive impact these programs have on your students.
Educators, parents, and administrators can take advantage of the free activity ideas and lesson plans on SHAPE America’s website to celebrate National Physical Education & Sport Week, and help raise awareness about the importance of these programs.
Use social media to share fun photos and videos highlighting how you are empowering kids to lead active, healthy lives during National Physical Education & Sport Week. Don’t forget to tag your posts with #GetActive.
SHAPE America wishes everyone a fun, physical activity-inspired month of May!
Spread the Word! Share this post with your networks using this sample tweet: .@SHAPE_America pres. @ClelandFran shows us how to empower kids to #getactive this Nat’l PE & Sport Week! http://bit.ly/2q83uC1