Importance of pdhpe

1. Why is it
important to
teach PDHPE in
primary schools?

2. PDHPE
The importance of PDHPE is often forgotten
by teachers, parents and students in the
preference of units such as English, maths
and science as they have more academic
value. However, children are taught many
skills, strategies and approaches to
situations they may have to face in their
lives…

3. PDHPE is important because…
• It teaches children to develop an
understanding and knowledge as well as skills,
values and attitudes they need in order to live
a healthy, happy, productive and responsible
life.
• Encourage them to value themselves, their
loved ones and others within the community.
• Teaches children the importance of adequate
and regular physical activity.
• Teaches children the importance of having
family, friends and close relationships.
• The importance of eating a balanced and
healthy diet.

4. PDHPEfocuses on 8 interrelated strands.
• Active lifestyle-Examining the components of a balanced and active
lifestyle
• Dance-Allows students to communicate and express themselves through
movement
• Games and Sports-Develops each student’s competence and confidence
in games, sports and physical activities
• Growth and Development-Developing understanding of their own
social, cognitive and emotional development.
• Gymnastics-Allows students to investigate a variety of gymnastic skills
• Interpersonal Relationships-Allows students to develop skills in
building responsible/positive relationships in order to apply in their lives
• Personal Health Choices-Allows students to consider nutrition, hygiene,
consumerism, environment and disease prevention
• Safe Living-Develops a students ability to keep themselves safe from harm

5. There are 5 essential skills students should learn and
develop from PDHPE. These include:
• Communicating- Expressing needs, wants, feelings, ideas and opinions
with each other as well as negotiation, refusal and assertive skills.
• Decision Making- Allows students to make healthy personal and lifestyle
choices such as making informed decisions and adopting safe practices .
• Interacting- Allows students to work cooperatively as a group member,
offering encouragement and maintaining friendships.
• Moving- To move effectively in response to a variety of stimuli and to
participate in a range of games/sports as well as fundamental skills such as
throwing, catching etc.
• Problem Solving- Allows students to develop problem solving skills by
observing, questioning and researching as well as generating alternative ways
of resolving problems, identifying people who can assist.