This document outlines the importance of PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education) classes in primary school. It discusses how PDHPE teaches children important skills and knowledge about health, lifestyle choices, communication, growth and development, and safety. Specifically, it notes that PDHPE addresses issues like childhood obesity, nutrition, physical activity, drug and alcohol use, hygiene, disease prevention, and mental health. The goal is for students to learn skills that will help them make positive decisions about their health and well-being for their entire lives.

1. THE IMPORTANCE OF
PDHPE IN PRIMARY
SCHOOL – INFORMATION
FOR PARENTS
BY MISS HOLGATE
PDHPE RATIONALE

2. Childhood Obesity
 Childhood obesity is on the rise and has a negative impact on health,
self esteem and social acceptance.
 From 2011-2012 one quarter of Australian children between the ages of 5-17
were overweight or obese.

3. Health and lifestyle education.
 Learning about health and staying active through PDHPE classes, is
important because:
 It teaches children about nutrition and how to make healthy choices, allowing
them to learn important decision making skills.
 Physical activity teaches children important social skills and can help them
improve their self esteem.
 It promotes physical activity in a fun and enjoyable way, allowing students to
be creative in their movements.
 Students learn important movement skills that they will use for the rest of their
lives.
 Physical activity allows children to improve their health and decreases the
chances of obesity.

4. Personal Health Choices
 PDHPE isn’t just about food and physical activity. It teaches
students important skills that enable them to make positive and
informed decisions about:
 Personal Hygiene
 Nutrition
 Drug and alcohol use
 Smoking
 The environment
 Disease control
 Sun protection

5. Communication
 PDHPE allows students to improve a broad range of communication skills.
 Communication skills allow children to:
 Understand themselves and others better.
 Identify and express feelings, wants and needs
 Work effectively in group and team environments
 Have stable interpersonal relationships
 Positively respond to situations
 Know how to seek help when they need it.
 Be more tolerant and caring towards others
 Decrease the chances of bullying or being bullied.

6. Growth and Development
 Students learn about growth and development, and this enables
them to:
 Learn about the human body, body parts and how they work
 Increase an understanding of their physical, social, emotional and cognitive
changes.
 Gain an understanding of changes that occur throughout different cycles of a
person’s life
 Learn to become confident in managing such changes.
 Understand their bodies, the concept of body image and the various factors that
impact on their eating behaviours and self esteem.

7. Safe Living
 PDHPE teaches students important life skills about safety. Students
learn about:
 How to act in ways that will keep themselves and others safe
 Child protection education that teaches them how to recognise and respond to
unsafe situations
 How to identify, react to, and minimise hazards at school, at home and in the
playground
 Road safety
 Water safety
 Bullying, mental health and where to get help
 Safety procedures and what to do in an emergency situation