This May is the 26th anniversary of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, with May 1-7 designated as National Physical Education and Sport Week. These events are sponsored by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE).
The preeminent national authority on physical education and a
recognized leader in sport and physical activity, NASPE is a non-profit
professional membership association that sets the standard for practice
in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 16,000 members include: K-12
physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic
trainers, sport management professionals, researchers, and
college/university faculty who prepare physical activity professionals.
NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and
increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and
physical activity programs through research, development of standards,
and dissemination of information. It is the largest of the five
national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health,
Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD).
NASPE recommends that schools and families incorporate at least 60
minutes of moderate physical activity into each child’s daily routine. The challenge isn’t finding enough time in the day for a child to
exercise, rather, it is helping each child identify a sport or activity
that he or she enjoys as much as watching television or playing
computer games.
“For many young kids (those under the
age of eight), the problem isn’t inactivity, it is trying to slow them
down. However, children between the ages of eight and 10 seem to
choose one of two routes: the athletic way or the non-athletic way. Those who choose the athletic route play on teams, participate in dance
clubs or martial arts, for example."
“As youngsters enter middle school, however, organized
physical activities become limited. Thus the challenge for parents is
to assist their children in finding physical activities that they enjoy
doing with their friends, and that does not require a coach or
instructor. Kids need to discover what else is out there for them:
riding a bike, in-line skating, dancing, golf, tennis, martial arts or
maybe going to the gym. It is important to allow them to explore these
different opportunities and determine what activities they truly
enjoy.”
NASPE also suggests that parents limit the
amount of time their children spend in front of the television or
computer to less than two hours a day, and that they see their parents
having fun participating in physical activities of their own
choosing. Children learn by example. If you enjoy and participate in
physical activity, so will your children.
Each day during kickoff week has a different theme: Adventure Day, Dance Day, Sport Day, Recreation Day, and Personal Fitness Day. For activity ideas, click here!