PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education) is an important subject in primary school for several key reasons. It helps children develop important life skills like maintaining physical and mental health, building positive relationships, and making responsible choices. The PDHPE curriculum focuses on supporting students' overall growth and allows them to learn how to live safely and healthily. Regular physical activity is also emphasized as it can reduce stress and depression while promoting health benefits like maintaining a healthy weight and bone strength. Both the NSW Board of Studies and the Victorian government recognize the significance of the PDHPE curriculum for establishing healthy habits in students from a young age.

1. PDHPE rationale iN
PRIMARY School
…………………………………………………………
UNDESRTANDING ITS importance
AND
purpose
Miss Monica Sanchez. 6A

2. living
and
learning
in
a
safe
secure
environment
Children
learn
physical,
social,
cogni7ve
and
emo7onal
growth
and
development
pa9erns.
the
factors
influencing
personal
health
choices
The
development
and
maintenance
of
posi7ve
interpersonal
rela7onships.
the
adop7on
of
an
ac7ve
lifestyle
fundamental
movement
pa9erns
and
coordinated
ac7ons
of
the
body
skills
that
enable
ac7on
for
be9er
health
and
movement
outcomes
Key PDHPE learning Points
Board
of
Studies.
(2001).
Personal
development,
health
and
physical
educa5on
k-­‐6:
modules.
Sydney,
Australia:
Board
of
Studies
NSW.
p.
7
-­‐
9

3. The aim of teaching pdhpe:
“To
develop
in
each
student
the
knowledge
and
understanding,
skills
and
values
and
aNtudes
needed
to
lead
healthy,
ac7ve
and
fulfilling
lives.
In
doing
so,
the
syllabus
will
form
the
basis
for
students
to
adopt
a
responsible
and
produc7ve
role
in
society”.
Board
of
Studies.
(2001).
Personal
development,
health
and
physical
educa5on
k-­‐6:
modules.
Sydney,
Australia:
Board
of
Studies
NSW.
p.
8

4. Why is it so important?
PDHPE Education is critical because:
• It provides students with real life significance. The main strands of PDHPE
education allow children to understand how to obtain a healthy and
enjoyable life.
• All of the strands within the PDHPE syllabus focus on the central parts of
child development looking at healthy relationships, being active, making
good choices about their own health, and understanding how their body
constantly undergoes change.
• The PDHPE syllabus for K-6 provides children with “an ability to act in
ways that will keep themselves and others safe from harm.”
Board
of
Studies.
(2001).
Personal
development,
health
and
physical
educa5on
k-­‐6:
modules.
Sydney,
Australia:
Board
of
Studies
NSW.
p.
9-­‐11

5. Benefits of Sports and Activities:
• Teaching children to understand the benefits of PDHPE allows
for healthy habits to start from a young age.
• Children may enjoy learning and participating in various
different forms of sports and exercise that they would not
normally have the opportunity to take part in.
• Children stay active, spend more time outdoors and learn to
work with others as a member of a team.

6. What Does the government
think?
“Physical activity or exercise can improve your health and reduce
the risk of developing certain conditions or diseases including
depression and anxiety (as well as maintaining)… weight and
preventing osteoporosis”
State
Government
of
Victoria.
(2014).
Physical
ac5vity
–
it’s
important.
Be9er
Health.
Retrieved
from
h9p://www.be9erhealth.vic.gov.au/
bhcv2/bhcar7cles.nsf/pages/Physical_ac7vity_its_important?open