P.E. is one of those lessons that we’ve all tried to wriggle out of in school but is possibly one of the most important for child development. Sports lessons teach children the vital lessons of how to maintain a healthy body and healthy mind.
We have partnered with an independent college in Berkshire to shed light on the benefits of sports in schools.
Building confidence and self-esteem
Sport focuses on key life lessons such as teamwork, achievement and friendly competition to name a few.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get when you and your team shoot a goal. Finding your place on the pitch, or the netball court and progress week on week can really help your self-esteem.
Improved mental health
Unlike the classroom, sport allows children to go outdoors and do some exercise. The rush of endorphins that children get straight after a P.E lesson can help to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Similarly, it can be a good source of stress relief for built-up emotions and tension felt, particularly by teenagers.
A sharper brain
Research carried out by the Brain Research Journal highlights the positive effect sport can have on learning.
The study found that regular cardiovascular exercise helps to grow the hippocampus of the brain. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for learning and memory. This demonstrates just how important it is to engage in sport academically.
Leadership and teamworking
As discussed above, sport promotes teamwork and the creation of leaders. In any sport, it is essential for a team to work together in order to achieve an end goal. It’s the responsibility of a leader to best coordinate their efforts based on their strengths to achieve that goal.
These are essential skills that are needed in later life in settings such as the workplace.
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post