We know that as kids get older, they get less active, with the declines starting in middle school. There are numerous reasons why today's kids are less active than their parents were, Wechsler says, from the lure of sedentary pastimes such as video games, computers and TV to the lack of sidewalks and safe places to play. Strategies could range from making stairwells attractive and safe to offering after-school programs for kids of all ability levels in noncompetitive activities such as hiking, climbing, dance and yoga. While quality physical education helps students find joy in movement, the new PE is not just fun and games. The stress levels in America are so high, and there's a lot of pressures on these kids.
PE is movement, and movement can help relieve stress.
When working on ball-handling skills, students shouldn't have to share one ball among 10 people. Dodge ball may be fine for students who want to play it at recess, but it's an inappropriate classroom activity because it eliminates kids rather than encouraging them to participate fully. Youngsters should be introduced to activities they can do recreationally throughout their lives, ranging from traditional American sports such as volleyball and basketball to activities such as aerobics, yoga, tai chi, climbing and in-line skating. The only person a youngster should compete against is himself or herself.