Physical activity contributes to good physical and mental development. It has a wide range of physical and emotional benefits, from developing strength, increasing concentration and educational performance and learning, to boosting mood and reducing the risk of many lifestyle-related diseases.
“Being active plays a key role in brain development in early childhood and is also good for longer-term educational attainment.” Public Health England (2014)
The UK Chief Medical Officers (CMO) have set out physical activity guidelines for children and young people, drawn from global evidence, to ensure they access all the benefits listed above.
These guidelines state that primary school aged pupils should participate in an average of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Yet, the latest data shows that less than half (47%) of children and young people in Sussex hit this target. In England, more than 1 in 5 children are overweight or obese when they begin school, with that rising to 1 in 3 children by the time they leave primary school.
In addition to high quality PE lessons and extra-curricular clubs, there are several ways that schools can look to promote physical activity throughout the school day and ensure pupils reap the benefits of being active.
Mazoezi ya kimwili huchangia ukuzi mzuri wa kimwili na kiakili. Ina faida nyingi za kimwili na kihisia, kutoka kwa kukuza nguvu, kuongeza umakini na utendaji wa elimu na kujifunza, kuongeza hali ya moyo na kupunguza hatari ya magonjwa mengi yanayohusiana na mtindo wa maisha. "Kuwa na shughuli nyingi ni muhimu kwa maendeleo ya ubongo katika utoto wa mapema na pia ni nzuri kwa ajili ya mafanikio ya muda mrefu ya elimu. "" - Public Health England, 2014: ""Uongozi wa afya wa watoto na vijana, kulingana na ushahidi wa kimataifa, kuhakikisha wanapata faida zote zilizotajwa hapo juu." Miongozo hiyo inasema kwamba wanafunzi wa shule ya msingi wanapaswa kushiriki katika wastani wa dakika 60 ya shughuli za kimwili za wastani hadi nguvu kila siku. Hata hivyo, takwimu za hivi karibuni zinaonyesha kwamba chini ya nusu (47%) ya watoto na vijana katika Sussex walifikia lengo hili. Katika Uingereza, zaidi ya mtoto mmoja kati ya watano ana uzito wa ziada au ni mnene sana wanapokuwa shule, na idadi hiyo huongezeka hadi mtoto mmoja kati ya watatu wanapokuwa wamemaliza shule ya msingi. Kwa kuongezea masomo ya ubora wa juu ya mazoezi ya mwili na vilabu vya ziada vya masomo, kuna njia kadhaa ambazo shule zinaweza kuangalia kukuza shughuli za mwili wakati wa siku ya shule na kuhakikisha wanafunzi wanapata faida ya kuwa hai.