The US Department of Health and Human Sciences issued physical activity guidelines for children in 2008. These stated children should have at least sixty minutes of physical activity every day. In 2011, though, the CDC released data revealing only 29 percent of surveyed high school students met this recommendation.
Since children spend a significant amount of time in school, schools have an opportunity to provide time for organized and unstructured physical activities. Comprehensive school physical activity programs (CSPAPs) are multi-component plans that encompass physical education; physical activity before, during, and after school; staff involvement; and family and community involvement. A CSPAP guide provides information on how physical activity can be incorporated before, during, and after school. Implementing activity during recess, physical activity breaks, and classroom time is all outlined in the guide. The CDC and SHAPE America developed a guide for schools to develop, implement, and evaluate CSPAPs.
Westminster School prioritizes and integrates physical activities and sports during the school day. This private school in Northern Virginia has dedicated teachers and a beautiful seven-acre campus, and these factors help promote physical activity during school hours.
Benefits Sports and Physical Activity Offer Schoolchildren
1. Health Benefits
Children and adolescents who engage in regular physical activity enjoy better health. They are more likely to achieve better health outcomes, such as cardiorespiratory fitness; stronger bones and muscles; better weight control; and a lower risk of health conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
2. Academic Benefits
Research has shown children who engage in regular sports develop and improve cognitive skills. Children develop better work ethics and attitudes and enjoy benefits like increased concentration, sharper attention, and better behavior in the classroom. These benefits, in turn, result in improved academic achievement.
According to data from the US Department of Education in 2005, high school athletes are more likely to attend college. These benefits often carry over into the workplace. One survey showed 94 percent of the four hundred female corporate executives surveyed played a sport. Of those four hundred, 61 percent believed sports played a role in their career success.
3. Mental Benefits
Regular exercise positively impacts mental health, and this is more evident in children as they reach their teens. A 2019 study stated children who did not exercise at all had double the chance of developing mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, compared to those who exercised at least an hour a day. Studies revealed that lack of access to usual sporting activities was perceived by parents to have a negative impact on the mental health of many children during the pandemic.
4. Social Benefits
Physical activities and sports have positive effects on personal development. Children engaged in physical activity and sports have better self-esteem, can more effectively set goals and work toward them, and develop better leadership skills. Working in a team and learning to collaborate with others is helpful for the future.
As per a psychosocial survey conducted by the Aspen Institute and the University of Texas, team sports are effective in increasing overall well-being. This is perhaps due to their structured approach and increased social interactions.
Children have fun engaging in games and working collaboratively. Many of these children develop more self-esteem and subjective well-being when engaging in regular sports.
5. Emotional Benefits
Sports and physical activities make children happier and more relaxed. Children who participate in sports also learn to cope with losing. Many children have little to no exposure to defeat. When children engage in sports, though, they learn to navigate the emotions brought on by losing. They learn to take them in stride and to emerge stronger without parental interference.
6. Discipline
When children play sports, they gain discipline and learn to practice self-restraint. Every sport or game has rules that everyone on the playing field must follow. Breaking rules has consequences, and the team's coach discusses these rules and the importance of following them during practice. These are life lessons that will serve the children well in the future.
Westminster School is founded on a classical curriculum and rigorous academic standards. This private school also emphasizes and integrates arts in an accelerated, well-rounded program. To form citizens with well-rounded characters, the school strives to ensure individual achievement and fulfillment. Their curriculum and approach work toward a balance between body, mind, and spirit.
The physical education program at Westminster School in Northern Virginia, VA, is as carefully planned and implemented as the art and academic programs. Parents looking for the best options in private schools in Northern Virginia can contact Westminster School at (703) 256-3620. The school offers a community of diverse learners and private education through a well-structured academic program augmented with arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
