Why do PDHPE in Primary School?

1. PDHPE Rationale
by Mr Aaron Plunkett 2P
PDHPE is an essential subject in Primary
Schools as it helps students to
• live active, healthy and fulfilling lives,
and
• grow to become a productive
members of society.
(Board of studies, 2006)

2. Some recent trends in Australia:
• Internationally: Obesity has risen in the last 25 years. (Healthy
Kids, n.d. a)
• Nationally: The number of overweight and obese children has
more than doubled from 1985-1995. (Healthy Kids, n.d. a)
• In NSW schools: the number of overweight or obese children
has risen from 1 in 10 (1985) to 1 in 4 (2004). (Healthy Kids,
n.d. a)
• Childhood obesity is linked to many
immediate health concerns as well as
diseases later on in adult life. (Gill et. al.,
2009)

3. PDHPE has a holistic approach to
developing students health and wellbeing.
In PDHPE students learn about a range of essential and fun
topics that set them up to make healthy and safe choices
throughout their life.
Topics include:
• Safe living,
• Personal health choices,
• Active lifestyle,
• Interpersonal relationships
• Growth and development, and
• Gymnastics, dancing games and
sports.
(Board of Studies, 2006)

4. Students will develop physical skills such as:
• Movement skills,
PDHPE teaches students cognitive skills such as:
• Problem-solving skills, and
• Decision making skills.
PDHPE also develops student’s relational skills such as:
• Communicating skills, and
• Interacting skills.
In PDHPE students learn a range of skills.
(Board of studies, 2006)

5. In PDHPE students learn about living an
active lifestyle.
This is important because regular physical
activity:
• Builds strong bones and muscles,
• Improves balance,
• Helps to keep a healthy weight
• Reduces stress,
• Improves cardiovascular function,
• Boosts confidence, and
• Is FUN!!!
(Just to name a few)
(Healthy Kids, n.d. b; Cordelia et. al., 2012)

6. References
Board of Studies NSW (2006) Personal, development, health and physical education K-6: Syllabus.
Sydney, Australia: Board of Studies NSW.
Cordelia, W., Carter, Lyle., J., Micheli. (2012) Beyond weight control: The benefits of physical activity for
children. Pediatric Annals 41(12) 493
Gill, P., T., Baur, L., A., Bauman, A., E., Steinbeck, K., S., Storlien, L., H., Fiatarone-Singh, M., A ., Brand-
Miller, J., C., Colagiuri, S., & Caterson, I., D. (2009) Childhood obesity in Australia remains a
widespread health concern that warrants population-wide prevention programs. Medical Journal
Australia. 190(3) 146-148.
Healthy Kids (a) (n.d. ). Overweight and obesity. Healthy Kids (an initiative of NSW Ministry of Health,
NSW Department of Education and Communities and the Heart Foundation). Retrieved on 11th
May 2014 from http://www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/stats-research/overweight-and-obesity.aspx
Healthy Kids (b) (n.d. ), Get active each day. Healthy Kids (an initiative of NSW Ministry of Health, NSW
Department of Education and Communities and the Heart Foundation). Retrieved on April 6, 2014
from http://www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/kids-teens/get-active-each-day.aspx
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