UNIT 1

ROLE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT

INTRODUCTION
Physical education trends have developed recently to incorporate a greater variety of activities besides typical sports.
Introducing students to activities like football, basketball, bowling, walking, hiking or frisbee at an early age can help
students develop good activity habits that will carry over into adulthood. Some teachers have even begun to incorporate
stress-reduction techniques such as yoga, deep-breathing and martial arts. Studies have shown that physical activity
enhances muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular endurance, and provides many other physical benefits. It also
provides psychological benefits such as improving general mental health, concentration, awareness and positive mood.
It can be taught to any age student making it ideal for mixed ability and age classes. Teaching non-traditional sports to
students may also provide the necessary motivation for students to increase their activity and can help students learn
about different cultures.

PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN

Physical activity is critical to the development and maintenance of good health. Research shows that regular physical
activity can help reduce your risk for several diseases and health conditions and improve your overall quality of life.
Physical fitness involves the efficient functioning of your body organs. Fitness influences to a great degree not only to
physical health but also the health of our mind such as mental alertness and emotional stability. When physical activity
is combined with proper nutrition, it can help control weight and prevent obesity, a major risk factor for many diseases.
Physical activity helps to reduce body fat by building or preserving muscle mass and improving the body's ability to use
calories. Scientist in the field of Physical education recommends at least one hour of regular physical activity to be an
integral part of our daily routine.

Once you begin to exercise regularly, you will tone your muscles; increase the cardiovascular capacity, improve
flexibility. As your body condition improves, you will discover many more reasons why exercise is so important to have
a better quality of life. Exercise reduces stress, lifts moods, and helps us sleep better.

Physical activity helps in the following:

• Developing and maintaining good health.

• Taking preventive measure against disease.
• Improving mental and physiological strength and physical fitness.
• Improving mental concentration.
• Building self-esteem
Physical activity or exercise is often misunderstood and the sole contributor of the overall development of an individual.
It is very important to understand and differentiate meaning of physical activity and the overall health.

Let us understand what does it mean to be 'healthy' and what are the major components of health.

HEALTH TRIANGLE

The health triangle--also known as the Wellness Triangle--represents three aspects of living that contribute to optimal

health. The three areas involve the physical, social and mental well-being of the individual. Each aspect makes up a side
of the triangle. Optimal health is achieved once a balance between the three areas is reached. The concept of the health
triangle was first introduced by the World Health Organization in 1948, which stressed the need for overall balance to
achieve health and wellness.

PHYSICAL HEALTH
Physical health is one the most important component of the Health Triangle. When we say that a person is physically
healthy, we understand that the person is not only externally healthy (healthy * BMI) but also internally healthy which
refers to an efficient functioning of all his internal organ systems. The way to achieve this health is:

. Exercise 1 hour daily

. Include stretching and cardiovascular exercises

. Eat Balanced diet

. Do not skip breakfast
. Eat at least three times a day

. Sleep at least 8 hours daily

. Keep sleep timing the same
. Always keep smiling

MENTAL HEALTH

The mental side of the health triangle has to do with an individual's cognitive and emotional well-being.

A person is mentally healthy if he shows the following traits:

. Free of stress
. Able to think clearly and positively
. Able to focus or concentrate
. Reasonable memory
. Control over his/her emotion
. Free from depression and any mental disorders

A mentally healthy person is able to learn well. Learning is the key to the development of skills, behaviors and
knowledge.

SOCIAL HEALTH

Social Health is the ability to live harmoniously in a society. One can develop social health by investing in relationships
within family, friends and community. Social health is about realizing one's role in a society and being able to live by
the rules and the norms defined for a harmonious community living. This requires respect towards self and others,
effective communication skills, empathy and responsibility towards the environment. A good level of social health
cannot be achieved unless one is able to care about other persons needs and respond positively.

The overall concept behind the health triangle is the importance of having all three sides in balance. When one side is
off balance, the other two areas ultimately suffer. The physical side serves as the foundation for the other two, meaning
both emotional (mental) and social health will be negatively affected when the body is sick or weak.
Physical activity/sports provide the perfect opportunity to build Physical Health, thereby directly impacting social and
mental health. Team games are perfect set ups where one learns how to interact with people from different backgrounds,

levels of proficiency, age groups, gender, etc. groups, gender, etc.

FACTORS INFLUENCING PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

In the previous chapters we learned about the factors affecting physical activities or the sports as whole. In this chapter
let us understand the other factors like society and their influence in promoting physical activities and sports culture.

Recap

• Physical fitness is the ability of an individual to perform day to day activities without undue fatigue

• Physical fitness is roughly divided into two - health related physical fitness and skill related physical fitness

• Physical fitness is an ability which differs from person to person and can also be highly trainable.

• There are 8 components of physical fitness muscular strength, explosive strength, muscular endurance, speed, agility,
flexibility, cardiovascular endurance and body composition.

Factors affecting physical fitness

1. Age: Age is a chief factor which influences physical fitness. Physical fitness is measured by assessing physiological
and physical performance. These physiological and physical performances vary according to age. These variations are
depending on growth and development of muscles, bones, nervous system and other internal organs. As we age our
physical size increases along with our functional and performance capacity.

2. Gender: Male and female are different in terms of body composition and physiological functioning. These
differences cater to gender specific roles assigned by nature. At the same time these differences also affect the physical
fitness of male and female. There is a clear difference in the ability of male and female to continue an activity for a
specific period of time, it's intensity and development of physical fitness as it's effect.

3. Body composition: Body composition refers to the percentage of body weight that is composed of fat as compared
with fat free or lean tissue (muscles). Body composition can be explained by somatotyping. Somatotyping is a technique
to divide people into three different types based on body shape and physique type. These types are known as:

✓ Endomorph

✓ Mesomorph

✓ Ectomorph

Each body types mentioned above has its own advantages and disadvantages in achieving desired amount of physical
fitness. For example, ectomorph is a lean and thin body frame. It is unrealistic for an ectomorph to achieve the same
amount of muscular strength as an endomorph.

4. Nutrition: Physical fitness is highly affected by the energy input and output balance. The energy input is in the form
of food intake the quantity as well as the quality of food and output is in the form of physical exercise. An important
element of this nutrient intake is water. The diet requirement varies based on body type and nature of activity. A person
should consume optimum nutrition based on his activity level and fitness goal.

5. Climatic conditions: Different climatic conditions affect the fitness level of an individual in many ways. Food
pattern and activity level defers according to the season of the year. This phenomenon has a direct impact on the fitness
level of an individual. Apart from that different geographical locations have different climatic conditions. This has
significance in the food habits and physical activity patterns of people living in those locations. Different climatic
conditions require different training requirements to develop and maintain physical fitness.

6. Lifestyle habits: These play a very important role in the fitness and wellbeing of a person. Starting with desk jobs,
city life, lack of walking options, air conditioned home and offices, smoking and drinking habits, eating outside food
etc.

7. Physical Activity: As discussed, lack of physical activity is one of the most important factors affecting physical
fitness. Physical activity is critical for overall health at every age. Any form of exercise or movement of our body that
uses energy is described as a physical activity. Regular physical activity includes participation in moderate and vigorous
exercises and muscle strengthening activities.

INFLUENCE OF SOCIETY ON SPORT

We all know and have experienced the impact sports make in our lives and in the society we all live in. There are
numerous examples of positive impacts sports have made in different societies. But have you ever thought the other way
around? How does a society can impact sports? How a society develops or reshapes sports?

The simplest definition of society is a group of people who share a defined territory and a culture. All human societies
have a culture and culture can only exist where there is a society. Culture refers to the agreed norms, values, beliefs,
interests, behaviours of the majority of people in a society. Culture is a way of life which is directly affected by the
various factors in a society like environment, economy, political system and technology to name a few. For example, we
say some societies are culturally oriented towards sports, it simply means that these factors directly or indirectly
contribute towards the sporting culture in that society. But these factors are ever changing and these changes can be
positive or negative. The advancement in economy, political system, technology, can lead to the advancement in
sporting culture and the deterioration can also lead to the decline of the same. Let us discuss some examples of direct
impact of society on sports based on the following factors.

Environment:

People sharing a common heritage or culture can have a different inclination or liking towards different games based on
their geographical location, availability of play space and infrastructure.

Adventure sports like mountaineering, skiing, bungee jumping, water rafting, etc. are common in northern and north-
eastern parts of India. Similarly, water sports, beach volleyball, kayaking, are more common with the people living in
coastal areas. The reason being the easy availability and easy access to places suited for these sports. It is likely that the
people from these geographical locations are naturally fitter than the people living in other parts as they are exposed to
more physically demanding games and sports. This makes them more obvious to get into sports which require more
physical strength and endurance. Athletes from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Manipur, Sikkim, Punjab, have excelled in
various sports like football, boxing, volleyball, basketball, track and field.

Economy:

Economy plays an important role in the development of sports. Modern day sports require sports equipment and

infrastructures of the best quality in order to excel and reach a certain level of competency. The countries which are
spending huge amount of money in developing their sports infrastructures are the ones leading the Olympic medal
tallies. Sports is no more performance oriented based on individual prowess but the infrastructure one gets exposed to
also plays an important role. Top athletes are paid sky high salaries for their performances. Only the countries with the
best available sports infrastructures can afford to have them play. This also leads to the creation of high-quality
tournaments. Indian Premiere League (IPL) today attracts top athletes from the world of cricket. The rise of the Indian
cricket team is the direct result of the quality tournaments being held in the country. Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI) is among the richest sporting bodies in the world and is in a position to conduct tournaments of this
magnitude because of the money it is generating from the public. The high growth economy, rapid rise of the middle
class with disposable income and leisure time in India has contributed to the rapid growth in media, internet and
television, driving interest and value in sports content.

Bollywood glamour attracts rapid growth in advertising as local and international companies target this lucrative
market. Involvement of Bollywood stars has given rise to public consciousness of sports. This attraction is reviving the
games like Kabaddi and Hockey which were almost on the verge of extinction.

Technology:

Economy and technology are correlated. The advancement in technology is the direct result of the advancement in
economy. A country with a good economy has the power to spend on technology, a must for any performance oriented
sports. The decline of Indian hockey is a direct reflection of the slow progress in technology in the field of sports. Team
India was the most feared team in the world with a record number of eight gold medals in Olympics.

The poor performances of Indian team in the field hockey are directly related to the introduction of artificial playing
field like astro-turf. The advancement in technology and the involvement of science in sports led countries like Australia
and Germany towards the pinnacle of field hockey. It is only in recent years that the Indian Hockey Federation has
introduced astro-turf in hockey stadiums around the country.

The Indian market presents a tantalizing prospect for organizations across the business of sport including:

• Local and international brands looking for ways to build their share of a huge consumer market
• Sports federations hoping to boost participation and grow commercial revenues.
• Event and tour organizers seeking new destinations for sport
• Agencies and sport professional services aiming to grow internationally
• Stadium architects and contractors wanting to explore new opportunities.
Political:
Political stability or instability has a major impact in the world of sports.

Kashmir is a live example where the current political situation has push them back to the stage where living is a priority
on staying fit and healthy. Playing is a fundamental right to every child, but most of the times we saw the pictures of
small kids throwing stones on the army people. Although throwing is a fundamental skill but instead of applying these
skills on the field of sports they applying it on the road side.

As we know, Olympic Games were conducted with the intention of bringing fragmented Greek states together. Truce
was declared when these games were held. Contrary to the intention of ancient Olympic Games, in modern times
Olympics were stopped due to wars. The 1916 Olympic Games were cancelled because of World War I, and the 1940
and 1944 Olympics were cancelled due to World War II. In 1920 Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and Turkey
were all banned from taking part because they were on the losing side in World War I. Japan, West Germany and East

Germany did not attend the 1948 London Games. In 1960, South Africa was banned from the Olympics because of its
racist policy. The 1972 Munich Games had few African participants because the African countries objected to the
presence of the team from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). United States of America (and about 60 allies) boycotted the
1980 Moscow Olympics Games. And the negative impacts due to the political frictions did not end with the history;
even today countries like India and Pakistan do not play any international matches against each other except during the
world cups.

PLAN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

As we have already understood that games and sports foster all-round development of children. Healthy body hosts a
healthy mind. Sports and games direct energy of children to fruitful channels. It is said that play is the most useful
leisure time activity of the adolescents. It is training for future. In the absence of opportunities for play, children get
more engaged in sedentary activities such as computer games, video games, TV etc. and end up becoming obese,
lethargic and prone to sickness/diseases.

The Secondary Education Commission has made it compulsory for all the schools and educational institutions to have
playing field along with the other necessary infrastructure. And suggests to schools where there are no proper playing
fields to make use of the municipal parks or any open space available in the neighborhood. This positive effort from the
government can be made effective by a structured physical activity program.

For the holistic development of children, physical education in school should incorporate the following:

• Activities should be fun so as to encourage all children to participate.

• Skills should be taught according to the diamond structure given below.
• Activities, props and equipment have been 'age appropriate'.
• Activities must to be structured and planned properly.
• All the children must be involved and none should be left behind.
• Progress of each child must be mapped through continuous assessment and remedial measures should be taken
to ensure that learning outcomes are achieved.

Identifying physical activity sessions

At this age, children are willing to experiment and explore. This is the right age for introducing the child to all sports
skills. Their movement skills are well tuned and are well coordinated by now. They have a good mastery over their
body, and their fundamental skills are good enough for them to perform new skills and new movement sequences.
Children who cannot perform various skills properly should be provided additional learning and practice opportunities
to improve their skills. Practice opportunities should be provided to children with sufficient time to develop the skills
required. At this age most of the skills can be executed in the correct manner. Practice will make them perfect.

Fitness activities become increasingly important at this age. If children are involved in sports and fitness activities now,
one can be sure that the child will remain involved in sports through adolescence. Children who participate in moderate
to vigorous physical activities for about an hour on three to four days each week can increase overall health.

In this age we should not let any child to specialize in a particular sport even if they are very good in that sport.
Encourage them to learn and participate different sport activities. At this age, the body is still developing, therefore, all
skills need to be practised for a holistic development.

At this age, children develop a self-image, strong enough to tolerate differences in how others react to them. They
develop a stronger sense of right and wrong, having reached the stage of development for internalization of rules and
regulations. They tend to become more self-reliant and can work independently.

This is a good time to have children create personal fitness and motor skill goals and monitor their own progress,
because they have a strong desire for self- improvement. These children also experience an increased desire for
interaction with others. Children at this age have great interest in games and team sports. They will work hard and play
hard. At this age, children like to demonstrate their skills and willingly try to perform better with time. They experience
a lot of gratification because their timing is now more under control. They tend to be very interested in competitive
sports.

Macro-planning

A macro plan is a bigger picture, it's short and concise, just hitting the important highlights. The macro level is a
snapshot of what you want to accomplish. For example: your end goal is, that a child should be able to play football
basic so that is your Macro-Planning

Meso-planning

The meso-planning is a breakdown of each week or pair of Weeks with the goal to improve one or two things in that
shorter period of time. The meso level of fitness is how you apply the planning to changes the results you will get.

For example: To play football, what are the basic skills the child should learn, implementing those in your planning will
be your Meso planning

Micro-planning

The micro-planning is a daily or couple day breakdown of specific skill or activities that are planned to improve upon
one another to achieve the goals set in both the mesocycle and macrocycle. For example: How you are going to plan a
session so that the child will be able to learn the fundamental skill of football. That will be your Micro planning

Weekly planning

In case of micro planning, we focus on one or two skills. However in weekly plan we focus on 2-3 sets of lesson plans
that you want to finish. These planning are important things that move the child towards the long-term goals. Weekly
planning will give you confidence and it is a short-term goal that you are setting for that group. These weekly plans
should be followed by a visual assessment during the class to check the progress.

YOGA

Yoga is a systematic and methodical process to control and develop the mind and body to attain good health, balance of
mind and self-realization. Yoga can help to develop health, improve concentration, increase flexibility and strengthen
willpower. If possible, establish a regular time of day to set aside for the Yoga practice.

Generally, yoga is a disciplined method utilized for attaining a goal. The ultimate goal of Yoga is moksha though the
exact definition of what form this takes depends on the philosophical or theological system with which it is conjugated.

Apart from the spiritual goals the physical postures of yoga are used to alleviate health problems, reduce stress and
make the spine supple in contemporary times. Yoga is also used as a complete exercise program and physical therapy

routine.

"Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities
and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open."

-B.K.S. Iyengar
YOGA - BENEFITS

1. All-round fitness: You are truly healthy when you are not just physically fit but also mentally and emotionally
balanced. As Sri Sri Ravi Shankar puts it, "Health is not a mere absence of disease. It is a dynamic expression of life –
in terms of how joyful, loving and enthusiastic you are." This is where yoga helps: postures, pranayama (breathing
techniques) and meditation are a holistic fitness.

2. Weight loss: With regular practice of yoga, we tend to become more sensitive to the kind of food our body asks for
and when. This can also help keep a check on weight.

3. Stress relief: A few minutes of yoga during the day can be a great way to get rid of stress that accumulates daily in
both the body and mind. Yoga postures, pranayama and meditation are effective techniques to release stress. You can
also experience how yoga helps de-tox the body and de-stress the mind.

4. Inner peace: We all love to visit peaceful, serene spots, rich in natural beauty. Little do we realize that peace can be
found right within us and we can take a mini-vacation to experience this any time of the day! Benefit from a small
holiday every day with yoga and meditation. Yoga is also one of the best ways to calm a disturbed mind.

5. Improved immunity: Our system is a seamless blend of the body, mind and spirit. An irregularity in the body affects
the mind and similarly unpleasantness or restlessness in the mind can manifest as an ailment in the body. Yoga poses
massage organs and strengthen muscles; breathing techniques and meditation release stress and improve immunity.

6. Living with greater awareness: The mind is constantly involved in activity - swinging from the past to the future -
but never staying in the present. By simply being aware of this tendency of the mind, we can actually save ourselves
from getting stressed or worked up and relax the mind. Yoga and pranayama help create that awareness and bring the
mind back to the present moment, where it can stay happy and focused.

7. Better relationships: Yoga can even help improve your relationship with your parents, friends or loved ones! A
mind that is relaxed, happy and contented is better able to deal with sensitive relationship matters. Yoga and meditation
work on keeping the mind happy and peaceful; benefit from the strengthened special bond you share with people close
to you.

8. Increased energy: Do you feel completely drained out by the end of the day? Shuttling between multiple tasks
through the day can sometimes be quite exhausting. A few minutes of yoga everyday provides the secret to feeling fresh
and energetic even after a long day. A 10-minute of meditation benefits you immensely, leaving you refreshed and
recharged in the middle of a hectic day.

9. Better flexibility & posture: You need to include yoga in your daily routine to benefit from a body that is strong,
supple and flexible. Regular yoga practice stretches and tones the body muscles and also makes them strong. It also
helps improve your body posture when you stand, sit, sleep or walk. This would, in turn, help pain due to incorrect
posture.

10. Better intuition: Yoga and meditation have the power to improve your intuitive ability so that you effortlessly
realize what needs to be done, when and how, to yield positive results. It works. You only need to experience it
yourself. Yoga is a continuous process. So keep practicing! The deeper you move into your yoga practice, the more
profound are its benefits.