PDHPE teaches important life skills like communication, decision-making, and problem-solving. It also teaches students about health choices, relationships, and living an active lifestyle. Statistics show many children are overweight and inactive. PDHPE is essential in primary schools as it helps students develop values like self-esteem and responsibility that last a lifetime. It also encourages physical activity and healthy living.

1. The importance of PDHPE in Primary
Schools
Mr. John-Christian Pingol 6P

2. Why should PDHPE be taught in schools?
• For the development of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
• To acquire knowledge of the benefits of healthy living in the physical, mental
and emotional realm.
• To gain understanding in the area of personal growth and maturation.
• PDHPE is one of the most important factors in our children’s lives.
• To teach our next generation a happy, healthy, productive and responsible way
of life within society.
• To teach them the importance and need of skills and values.
• Encourage them to value themselves, their loved ones and others within the
wider community.
• Teach the importance of adequate physical activity.

3. STATISTICS
• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) state that in 2011,
25.1% of children aged 2-17 were overweight or obese.
• Physical activity and education is declining in schools
wordwide.
• Department of Health and Ageing recommend that children
aged 5-12 should have 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous
physical activity on a daily basis.
• 31% of children in Australia do not meet these
recommendations.

4. BENEFITS OF PDHPE
Children develop many skills in different areas, such as:
• Communiation
• Interaction
• Decision-Making
• Moving Skills
• Problem-Solving
Children’s knowledge and understanding of important life-skills including:
• Personal Health Choices
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Growth and Development
• Active Lifestyle
• Safe Living

5. PDHPE
PDHPE does not only focus on physical education, but also personal
development in health. Students develop key values that they
continue to enhance through life.
It is important to develop these values at a young age as children.
Each individual factor increases the child’s knowledge, skills and
values.
PDHPE provides them with greater understanding of how to lead an
active lifestyle.
It teaches them more than physical activity but the importance to
adopt a strong, responsible and productive role within society and
the community.

6. PROVEN FACTS
Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and
endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight,
reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem, and may improve blood
pressure and cholesterol levels (Center for Disease Control and Prevention,
2008).
In 2011, 29% of high school students surveyed had participated in at least 60
minutes per day of physical activity on all 7 days before the survey, and only
31% attended physical education class daily (Youth Risk Behaviour
Surveillance, 2011)
Schools can promote physical activity through comprehensive school physical
activity programs, including recess, classroom-based physical activity,
intramural physical activity clubs, interscholastic sports, and physical
education.
Schools should ensure that physical education is provided to all students in all
grades and is taught by qualified teachers.

7. LET’S GET “PHASE A” IN ACTION
This is where you come in:
• PDHPE is essential in all primary schools and it helps students throughout
their life in many different aspects.
• The lack of importance placed on the PDHPE subject is an issue which
needs to be changed.
• PDHPE is an important factor in our children’s lives

8. Reference List
Board of Studies NSW (2007). Personal development, health and physical
education k-6 syllabus retrieved from:
k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/files/pdhpe/k6_pdhpe_syl.pdf
Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines
Advisory Committee report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, 2008.
Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines
for Americans. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services; 2008.
CDC. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States,
2011. MMWR2012;61(SS-4).