Homeschool PE: Your Most Important Class
Have you ever wondered if you should be adding some organized physical education to your homeschool schedule?
To be blunt, the answer is yes. And to be clear, PE classes are about way more than physical fitness and students learning about popular team sports.
PE... What's The Point?
Have you ever thought about the purpose of PE class?
In the school districts I taught in, PE seemed like a completely random period for letting the kids play games and run around. In some districts, a designated PE teacher was responsible for the kids. In other districts, teachers were in charge of their grade levels PE activities.
It's been so undervalued that school districts nationwide have scrapped PE time for more classroom instructional time.
I never saw any physical education learning standards that actually helped kids understand that enjoyable movement should be a daily habit to maintain personal health.
Capture the flag or tag on the playground structure just seemed like structured recess - which is cool, but not the point. Worse were the classes that forced kids to run in random circles for a timed period, instilling hatred for movement.
Physical Education: The Most Important Subject
I am certified to be a PE teacher - that may seem like I have a bias towards the subject, but the reality is that it just makes me a big ol' hypocrite. I need to do more physical activity. But I want to do better for my kids - and yours!
Physical education is more than just teaching motor skills for basketball, running laps, or billowy parachute games.
Physical education is when we should be teaching our littlest, most impressionable humans how to develop habits of enjoyable physical movement that will enhance every aspect of their lives from the current moment until their last breath.
I know, that seems really dramatic.
As adults, we set the example that physical activity should be a lifelong commitment.
Our Bodies Were Designed For Movement
Our bodies were designed for movement; without it, disease wiggles its way in and, without fail, affects our quality of life. Be it physical or mental, when we are still, our health suffers.
If you are suffering in any facet of your health, your ability to function decreases substantially.
It's hard to maintain a job, it's hard to maintain satisfying relationships, and it's hard to use any of the basic educational skills that we are teaching our kiddos.
No parent (homeschooling or otherwise) wants that for their young, vibrant child. We pray for the health and safety of our loved ones, our children being our utmost concern.
Physical Education Is About Setting Up Lifelong Health Habits
When we set our children up with a habit of enjoyable movement, it becomes something they can carry on and fall back upon for the rest of their lives - long after they've left our protective nest.
Notice I keep saying enjoyable? Nobody, I repeat, nobody likes to be forced to do activities they don't enjoy. They need to find some pleasure in the movement. They do - not you and your long-since-retired hopes of being a professional athlete (if that applies).
Enter your own personally designed homeschool physical education class.
Try something new! Maybe you can find a new form of fitness with your kids.
Homeschool PE Your Way - Informal and Awesome
As with everything glorious about homeschooling, you have so much flexibility!
You have personal and community resources at your fingertips to help guide you toward a physical education class that can inspire your homeschool students to love themselves through the vehicle of physical activity.
What better life skill than learning to appreciate your body and its physical capabilities and develop a high value for physical activity and fitness?
This isn't PE from the public schools of your youth. This is you creating a safe and healthy environment for your children to learn about healthy living, healthy eating, self-expression, self expression, and overall wellness.
Who knows, maybe you inadvertently discover some career opportunities! Either way, you will be taking the much needed steps toward providing your child with the necessary knowledge of how to maintain physical fitness.
Do you have a future physical therapist? If your child loves wellness, physical activity, and science, then kinesiology might be of interest!
How To Start Your PE Class
We all know that kids need to move. Some kids can't stop moving! Their bodies and minds need regular movement for healthy physical and mental development.
I am a big proponent of avoiding any physical education curriculum. Yep. Avoid the physical education learning standards too! They're boring! They do not instill a love for physical activity.
Given the obese and unhealthy state of our country today, does it really seem like school physical education programs are succeeding? Uhhhh...... Let's do better.
Magnify What Your Children Already Love
How do your kids like to move?
Are they bouncers? Swingers? Speed demons, twirlers, dolphins, throwers, racers, etc., etc
Use their natural movement patterns and motor skills to introduce activities and sports they might enjoy. Don't be afraid to outsource!
I have not met a kid that doesn’t love a skate park… try it out! Bikes, skateboards, scooters, try them all!
Once you know what they (or your whole family!) might be interested in trying, look it up!
If it's an activity you can easily do on your own, then figure out how you can fit it into your schedule's overall timeline. If you can put it into your daily routine, you have a better chance of creating a life-long habit of movement.
If it's an organized activity, I'd recommend you reach out and find availability before rearranging your homeschool schedule.
Check For Local Programs To Get Kids Moving
A great place to start if you want to go beyond your own knowledge is to tap into your personal and community resources. Sometimes the quickest way to find an activity is to ask people in your homeschool community!
Do your family, neighbors, or homeschool friends participate in any activities? Could you join in or form a carpool?
Be sure to check if any local programs like youth sports classes are available through your town or city. Many times cities will put out a seasonal offering of classes at local parks or recreation centers. You can call your city government office to see if they have these programs.
Reach out to your local government to see if any physical activity classes are available for kids.
Local gyms usually offer youth classes and sports. You can often join these activities without getting a gym membership - but generally at a higher cost. It's something you can consider, given your budget.
Often gyms have skills camps for organized sports or a schedule of one hour classes that build specific skills towards physical fitness, like gaining muscle strength through weight training.
How To Get Started With Organized Sports
Professional organizations are also something to look into. Many top professional organizations and sports have local programs to raise awareness for the sport and get kids interested early.
Have a kiddo who wants to play football? That absolutely counts as PE! Maybe they’ll play flag football with their friends in the park when they get older!
Some are available through franchises, and some are locally available leagues.
You can also call local high school districts and talk to the athletic department to determine your local sports options.
Here's a very small list of ideas to get you started:
First Tee is a national organization with local programs to teach the game of golf to children of all backgrounds.
Mighty Kicks is a franchised soccer program available throughout the United States. Kids as young as 2 can learn to play soccer!
AAU is a national program for ALL sports!
Be sure to check with your local YMCA! They often have team sports available.
If sports aren't your thing, that's fine! There are so many options for your homeschool PE beyond sports. I have one kid who loves sports and another who likes doing their own thing.
Alternative Physical Activities
Rock climbing would be an awesome homeschool PE class to try!
The sky's the limit here! I mentioned taking your child's preferred method of movement and using it to create a fitness habit. Keep in mind that a kid can love to shoot hoops and have zero desire to play on a team - that's ok!
Here is a random list of ideas you can incorporate into your physical education class! It's not comprehensive, so please take it as a starting point!
Outdoor Activities
hiking
backcountry hiking
trail running
rock climbing
bouldering
orienteering
mountaineering
skydiving
horseback riding
mountain biking
spelunking
Water Activities
swimming
diving
scuba diving
synchronized swimming
windsurfing
surfing
boogie-boarding
Kayaking
canoeing
white water rafting
Cold Sports
downhill skiing
cross country skiing
snowboarding
snowshoeing
ice skating
hockey
speed skating
Jumping
gymnastics
tumbling
dance
volleyball
basketball
high jump/long jump
hurdles
Running
long-distance running
track & field
running races
Other Ideas For Fitness
hula-hooping
yoga
rollerskating
skateboarding
triathlons
cycling
driving - this sport is quite physically demanding!
shooting
archery
crossbow
paintball
Modeling Personal Wellness Through Physical Activity
Remember, physical education aims to help your child understand how physical movement is necessary for overall wellness.
We need to teach them WHY our bodies want and need to move so they can be physically fit and feel good about movement, even when it can sometimes feel challenging.
As homeschoolers, we have the opportunity to raise awareness and model being physically active. Just as we train them with household chores, meal preparation, cleaning up, etc., we need to model that physical activity and fitness is a normal and expected part of being an adult.
To Sum It All Up!
Use homeschooling as an opportunity to create lifelong habits of physical activity!
Our bodies were designed to move. Without movement, our quality of life diminishes. We have a fantastic opportunity to introduce movement into our children's daily lives and facilitate an enjoyable hobby that will help them maintain personal health.
Avoid the pitfalls plaguing traditional physical education learning standards and find a physical activity you can enjoy for a long time.
Start with what your children are already interested in based on their typical movement patterns and explore from there!
Have fun!
