Importance of Physical Education

Of the many subjects children study in school, there may be none more important than physical education. However it must be of high quality and aligned with state/national standards and guidelines. A high quality physical education program offers children opportunities to develop the skills, concepts, and dispositions needed to be physically active for life. Sufficient, regular physical activity not only helps prevent major diseases but it also: promotes learning; reduces stress, anxiety, and depression; and improves overall student wellness. It doesn’t matter if the child excels in every other subject in school and grows up to become a successful professional, with poor health any professional achievement becomes secondary.

There are many factors that contribute to the ease of implementing and sustaining a quality program, including the involvement of the administration, parents, and community. However it ultimately comes down to the willingness of the physical education teacher(s) to do their best no matter the situation.


​That being said, REAL teachers still need our support and appreciation. This can be in the form of equipment (every jump-rope, pedometer, heart-rate monitor, and home-made scoop catcher counts), classroom assistance, time and funding for professional development, and by advocating for quality physical education at the local and state/national levels.

How physical education helps current political issues

Physical Literacy and It's Importance

Research on physical literacy (24 studies provided) indicates that one of the leading factors for participating in physical activity is one's competence and self-efficacy in that activity (see box below for research on motor competence and self-efficacy). With each skill mastered, new opportunities for physical activity are opened. ​This finding supports the need for attaining physical literacy in order to have the best chance at being physically active for a lifetime.

​The table below list some of the most utilized skill themes and the physical activities that require them. Also see these infographics.
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Additional Resources on Physical Literacy

National Guidelines and Recommendations for Physical Education

​"SHAPE America recommends that schools provide 150 minutes of instructional physical education for elementary school children, and 225 minutes for middle and high school students per week for the entire school year. A quality physical education program provides learning opportunities, appropriate instruction, meaningful and challenging content and student and program assessment" (SHAPE America).


​​"The Every Student Succeeds Act (2015) identifies school health ​and physical education as part of a student’s 'well-rounded education.'"​