When I was a child, our gym classes always focused on physical fitness. Though there were many days that we did things that seemed like they were just for fun, there was a underlying theme of exercise involved. I always had fun in gym class, I always looked forward to the days when I knew we would be playing. It didn’t matter if we were inside or outside, I always had a lot of fun. My gym teacher was very good, and he often made us forget that we were actually doing something good for our bodies. To us, we were just having a lot of fun.
Physical fitness is something that needs to remain within the school systems. It saddens me when I see news reports stating that many schools are eliminating physical fitness from their daily schedules. As a writer, I spend a lot of time sitting down. I wish my job was a little more active. I know that sitting in school all day is also something that cannot be good for a person’s health. Taking away physical fitness during the school day is a huge mistake as far as I’m concerned. Children need to learn, but they also need to take care of their bodies.
If you live in a school system that no longer is offers physical fitness, you want to make some time to take care of this on your own. Make sure your children are outside playing at least a few days a week after school. I know this is hard for some families, as some neighborhoods are not safe for children. This is when you have to take the time and make physical fitness happen. Spend some time on the weekends walking with your family if you can, or participating in a community sports program.
Because there are so many schools who are eliminating physical fitness, many communities are stepping up to the plate. If you look in your local paper or perhaps on your community’s Internet site, you are going to find some great family activities that you can participate in. Many communities are now organizing sports leagues that are free for anyone who would like to play. This is not only to encourage physical fitness, but also a sense of community togetherness. If your community has such programs, I strongly urge you to get yourself and your children involved.