Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy Physical education which is commonly a part of the curriculum at junior / senior college, includes training and maintaining one's physical body through educational means. It is also about sharpening overall cognitive abilities and motor skills via athletics, exercise and various other physical activities like martial arts and dance. Here are some of the benefits that highlight the importance of physical education. Why Physical Education is Important With obesity at an all time high, schools and universities alike are encouraging students to take part in activities that require physical involvement, be it in the form of exercise or sports. Some even come with their own fitness centers to give students a chance to enroll in their many programs. Campuses today that are conscious about such issues, stress on the importance of physical education by making sure students are constantly taking part in different activities and sport functions. Here are the reasons why a child should be health-conscious at a younger age. Developing One's Motor Skills Being physically active means strengthening one's cognitive processes and sharpening one's skills as a result. Exercising is a great way to keep the body in shape, and help it fend off illness while keeping kids at a healthy weight if they're considerably fit. Exercising doesn't mean pushing the body to do strenuous workout routines, but also taking part in other areas of physical fitness like aerobics, swimming, tennis, badminton, and the sort. Fueling Self-Confidence Kids when overweight tend to blend into the wallpaper, often being ignored by others or just not being the social type to engage and be of assistance. They're usually the target of verbal abuse and teasing, where physical education classes are often skipped with weak excuses. They can't see themselves in pretty / cool clothes because it is difficult to go out shopping or find their size. So they tend to wear over-sized outfits to hide their unsightly bulges, or avoid shopping all together. By being involved in physical activity, they can be sure that a dietitian could care for their eating habits, or a school counselor that can advise parents on being more health-food conscious and supportive to their kids when it comes to being more active and outdoorsy. It would build on their self-esteem when they reach a body type that doesn't fall in the overweight category. It helps them take part in events, be more open to team building activities, and gives them a fair idea of how to take care of their bodies. Learning Right and Wrong with Food Types Parents if not conscious about what they eat, tend to automatically feed their kids unhealthy foods. It is wise to hold parent-teacher conferences about healthy eating and how it is affecting kids and their performance in junior / senior college. Physical education classes also have sessions on healthy food habits and hygiene (which is also another important area). Kids will know from a young age about the right and wrong kind of foods, and how to limit such eatables before they grow and not even realize it. Teachers in charge of such classes should show graphic representations of what they speak of, to imprint the idea even more so in the minds of children both young and old. Hygiene is Everything Physical education classes may not always stress this point, but a lot of them do. It is an important habit to remain clean and fresh everyday, where kids tend to be messy and unclean when they're young. Classes stressing on the importance of regular baths, keeping fingernails clean, putting sweaty clothes away for cleaning and so on, are a must in any school. Once they have that drilled into their minds, they will follow it religiously as they grow older. Physical education is an important part of the learning process, and without it we'd have lazy, obese, and unhygienic kids multiplying all over the world. Parents need to take responsibility for their kids as well as those in charge of physical education, when it comes to being and remaining physically active.