Preschool Physical Education: Do We Really Need to Start That Young?

The problem
It's no secret the health problems our children face today. Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, premature heart disease, the list goes on. Everyone who knows the benefits of being physically fit totally understands why children need to have a sound physical education program in school. Most look at the elementary years as the place to start. In reality though, the seeds that cultivate a healthy lifestyle can and need to be sown much earlier.

The solution
Who would think children barely able to walk could benefit from a P.E. program? They can. Starting children out with exposure to sports skills, movement concepts and the general ideas behind a healthy lifestyle is the best way to effect change in our next generation. Children 2-3 do understand that the body likes healthy foods and that the heart gets clogged up with fat if we eat too much of it. They can learn to hold and manipulate a child-size frisbee, tennis racket and hockey stick. It's fun for them to learn how to coordinate simple movement and rhythm patterns. It gives them a head start at feeling physically competent after they finish Kindergarten. They've already seen sports equipment before, know how it is used, have practiced and failed many times without trauma, and developed some good basic foundation skills. These children enter the school system a jump ahead of those who don't get the same physical opportunities. And they've already started developing positive attitudes about exercise and nutrition. Waiting until children enter school to begin this process is more difficult. Kids are more aware of parental and societal attitudes and opinions (which many times are not favorable). They've already learned to love fast food and watching hours of TV. And, they're more critical of their abilities instead of focused on play. So, getting a late start means they'll start feeling more self-conscious if they don't hit the ball everytime.

Capabilities
What exactly are children this young really capable of learning? For starters, what the food pyramid is and how it works. What foods we should eat a lot of compared to a little of. They can understand the different body systems and how smoking puts poison in the lungs. They can develop and improve gross motor skills and begin traveling through the sequence of stages needed for developing core skills of striking, catching, throwing, rolling, balancing, rhythm and body awareness. In short, they can learn the basics, why fitness and nutrition is important and have fun along the way. It makes sense to them and they love moving.

Academically, they can learn practically any subject matter when taught through movement activities. If you question this, try it with math, science, reading or some other subject you're teaching. Take a concept you're having a difficult time getting across and weave it into a physical education activity. Children will learn it easier, remember it longer and have fun in the process. They can remember the names of bones, muscles and understand concepts like circulation. Children 2-5 are capable of learning to recognize colors, shapes and spatial relationships. They learn to count better, know the entire alphabet and I've even had non-English speaking toddlers learn English through physical education.

Benefits
Starting this educational and movement oriented process early on in a child's life only adds to the likelihood that he or she will continue with physical activity later on. If the subsequent people in these children's lives keep the routine going, the health of the future generation can change. Think about the first time you ever brushed your teeth or took a bath. Chances are you've been doing those things so long you can't remember the very first time you did either. They're just natural, automatic parts of your life. You don't get up each day and contemplate whether or not you'll take a bath or make up excuses why you can't brush your teeth that day. Those tasks are part of self-care just as fitness and sound nutrition should be. But, we rarely consider those habits options in our day to day life. Just think what the world would be like if children grew up exercising daily and eating healthy. Doing both because they can't remember a time when they didn't.

If health doesn't hit the top of your priority list note that children's self-esteem and self-competence is enhanced through an early childhood fitness regimen. Kids learn their bodies are important, that others should respect them and that there is no one like them in the entire world. And, that negative feelings can be channeled into movement. This can go a long way in today's world where kids grow up thinking abuse and violence is the way to solve problems.

The benefits are many. Physical health. Brain development. A healthy psyche. Enhanced learning in other subjects. And, fun.

Responsibility
Those who have dedicated their lives to physical education have a responsibility to promote movement as early as possible. We are the ones who don't need to be convinced of the benefits. Others can see them too, in such a short time. So many of the things our society takes for granted came from someone taking responsibility and changing things. Sanitary drinking water. Seat belts. Bicycle and motorcycle helmets. These things save lives. So much so, each became law. So does physical education. Must we strive for legislation on this too?

Instead of thinking of reasons why we should teach physical education to small children, I challenge administrators to come up with one good reason why we shouldn't. "Money" is not good enough, especially since the funds spent on such programs more than offset the long-term benefits as listed above. Why not help kids think of exercise the same as they do about brushing their teeth. At some point in time, toothless parents taught their kids how and why to brush their teeth. And it worked. Most kids don't grow up toothless anymore. Step up to the plate teachers and start teaching those little ones right from the start. Administrators start including funds for P.E. in all your grade levels. You can make a difference in the lives of our future generation but it needs to start with these little tikes. Today.

Michele Silence, M.A. Michele is a fitness writer, lecturer, teacher, fitness studio owner and creator of KID-FIT physical education classes for preschoolers. Learn more about KID-FIT™ or contact Michele at: http://www.kid-fit.com.