The Benefits of Sports in Schools

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In recent years, children have been spending an increasing amount of time playing on their smartphones and/or game consoles. This sedentary behavior can lead to an energy imbalance, which may cause young people to gain weight, and can also increase the risk of things like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and a range of other physical and mental health issues. With that said, it’s absolutely crucial for parents to try and reduce screen time and encourage their kids to spend at least an hour per day doing something physical. Fortunately, physical education is a compulsory school subject until the age of 16, which is beneficial for many reasons. I have teamed up with a private school in Surrey to explore why sport is important in schools below.

Reduces Stress
Physical activity is known to reduce stress because of the “feel good” hormones that are released. With that said, PE and sporting clubs allow students to blow off some steam and take a break from the stressors of everyday school life, such as exams and homework. As a result, children are able to return to their traditional lessons feeling calmer and more alert.

Boosts Confidence
As well as the obvious health benefits of sports in schools, it's also great for helping children gain confidence. Whether it’s a high five from a teammate, a new personal best, a cheer from the crowd, or positive reinforcement from a PE teacher or coach, children are given the opportunity to grow in character and start to believe in themselves. Gradually, their sporting skills will improve, which will help them have faith in their own abilities. Even if they’re playing football or another match and they lose the game, they will learn to accept constructive criticism in a positive way. It’s important that children learn how to deal with loss from a young age, because they will then find it easier to overcome obstacles in the future.

Improves Social Skills
Sport is often a social activity, which gives children the chance to work as part of a team and cooperate with their peers. Teamwork is an important skill that even many adults require in their place of work and working with their friends to reach a common goal will give your child a sense of camaraderie and community spirit.

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