Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Developmental Physical Education

There are three critical issues that face children in the US today. These issues are a rising in childhood obesity, in school and community violence among youth, and the psychosocial effects of early puberty. Fortunately we have developed goals through the concept of "Developmental Physical Education" to try and face these issues. Some of these goals are to teach our youth how to move, how to lead a healthy and active life, how to learn through movements, become fit, and become active learners. Through these goals we are trying to develop the whole child, but there are 3 main factors that can explain the relationships that lead to the development of the whole child. These factors are the biology of the individual, conditions of the learning environment, and the requirements of the movement task.

To help us develop the whole child we have to understand the concepts of individual appropriateness and group appropriateness. Individual appropriateness is based on the individuals levels of fitness, cognitive development and affective growth. Group appropriateness is influenced by age and grade level, it is second to individual appropriateness and ranges from general to specific movements. Each person is different and is at their own level of life, once we understand these two concepts it will enables to connect and understand what the individual needs and we can formulate those needs into group activities.

To develop an appropriate plan you have to consider the fundamental movement skills which include locomotion and manipulation. Some Locomotion skills are walking, running, and leaping. Some Manipulation skills are throwing, kicking, and volleying. Not only do you have to consider the fundamental movement skills but you should also consider the patterns of stability when developing an appropriate plan. These patterns can be observed as axial, static and dynamic movements. Examples of axial movements would be bending and twisting, and static/dynamic movements would be rolling and upright balances.

Once we consider the fundamental movements skills and patters of stability we will be able to develop a plan appropriate for the individual as well as the group. By doing so, we will be able to not only reach our goals, but also face the issues faced by children in America thus developing the whole child or physical fitness, which is both health and performance related.
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