PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education) teaches important lifelong skills to children in primary schools. It takes a holistic approach to health by encouraging self-understanding, active lifestyles, decision making, and positive relationships. PDHPE is not just about sports but also develops key skills like movement, problem-solving, communication, interaction, and decision making. It promotes overall well-being. Parents can support PDHPE by modeling healthy behaviors at home and doing physical activities together.

1. WHY TEACH PDHPE
IN PRIMARY
SCHOOLS?
Miss E. Tran
4T

2. ersonal
evelopment
ealth
hysical
ducation
 In teaching PDHPE, 50% of time is
dedicated to PDH and the other 50% is
dedicated to PE.
 Each of these areas are fundamental in
promoting the development of important,
lifelong skills and knowledge that
children require to live a healthy and
fulfilling life.

3. WHY IS PDHPE
IMPORTANT?
PDHPE offers a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle.
PDHPE is concerned with:
 Encouraging an understanding and valuing of self and others
 Adopting an active lifestyle
 Emphasising the importance of decision making
 The physical, social, cognitive and emotional growth of students
 The development and maintenance of positive relationships
 The factors influencing personal health choices
 Living and learning in a safe environment

4. ISN’T PDHPE JUST ABOUT SPORT?
These 5 fundamental PDHPE skills listed below contribute to Stage 2
students’ overall wellbeing. These skills are important and lifelong.
1. Moving – applying a variety of movement skills such as throwing, kicking, and
moving through water.
2. Problem-solving – analysing problems using a range of strategies.
3. Communicating – using a variety of ways to communicate such as sharing ideas
and feelings, role-playing and disagreeing in acceptable ways.
4. Interacting – making positive contributions in groups by developing class
rules, helping others, developing friendships and displaying tolerance.
5. Decision-making – making informed decisions individually and as a group
member, discussing advantages and disadvantages of options.

5. HOW CAN PARENTS
SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN?
View the Healthy Kids website for extra tips
Model a healthy
lifestyle by eating
healthy foods
Encourage children to
be physically active for
at least 30 minutes
each day
Play sports and
games together
Encourage children to
help with household
chores such as walking
the dog, washing the car
or mowing the lawn
Take part in either
organised sport or
activities in the park,
e.g. football, bike rides,
kite-flying

6. REFERENCES
Board of Studies New South Wales (2007). Personal development, health and physical
education k-6 syllabus. Retrieved from:
http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/go/personal-development-health-and-
physical-education-pdhpe
New South Wales Government, (n.d.). Healthy Kids. Retrieved from
http://www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/