The Importance of PDHPE in Primary

Schools

Elana Pene (17491714)

Rationale for PDHPE

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education is a vital subject in

children’s lives. PDHPE is one of the six Key Learning Areas (KLA) in all NSW

primary schools. It teaches students the importance of maintaining positive,

healthy lifestyles.PDHPE also equips students with vital life skills essential for all

stages of their lives. Students learn of the importance and need for these skills in

their lives and learn to value them. PDHPE must be addressed in primary schools

as it encourages students to live happy, healthy, responsible and productive lives

— enhancing their overall health and wellbeing.

Primary School PDHPE:

• Enables students to develop the knowledge, understanding, ability and

practical skills to communicate with others, make informed choices and

decisions and skills to solve problems effectively.

• In addition, students will develop fundamental moving skills and skills

enabling interactions with others.

• These skills will not only benefit students now in their current lives, but

will also benefit them in the future lives, in a variety of situations and

challenges they may encounter.

• Deals with physical activity as well as social, cognitive and emotional

growth and development patterns.

Personal Development and Health (PDH):

• Is all about promoting and encouraging healthy living.

• Helps students develop positive values and attitudes

that lead to a better, healthier lifestyle choices and

decisions (decision-making skills).

• Encourages students to understand and value

themselves as well as others.

• Helps develop and maintain positive interpersonal

relationships.

• Promotes and emphasises on the importance of

adequate physical activity (recommended daily

requirement — minimum of thirty minutes), eating

nutritious foods, maintaining a balanced diet and

having positive relationships.

• Provides students with the knowledge and

understanding of the body, how it the body functions

and the physical activities required to take care of the

body.

Physical Education (PE):

• Encourages children to be

actively involved,

participate in and maintain

a physically healthy

lifestyle.

• Is a contributing factor to a

promising and better

quality of life.

• Benefits physical health

and growth and

development.

• Promotes the five vital life

skills through group work

and team building.

• Be positive

• Communicate effectively

• Cooperate with others

• Enhance self-esteem

• Build friendships

• Be safe and aware

• Value having friends/close relationships

• Develop and maintain interpersonal

relationships

PDHPE teaches students to:

• Understand feelings of safety

• Eat a balanced, healthy diet

• Be confident in sport

• Respect, value and accept

themselves and others

• Have a responsibility for their

health and safety

• Enhance health and wellbeing