|
Wednesday,
September 04, 2002, 12:00 a.m. Pacific Seattletimes.com Emphasis is on fun According to PE specialists, the number of hours a child spends in
class is important, but so too is the class content.
The best programs don't
stress calisthenics
or traditional sports like football. Instead, they make
movement fun by adding in parts of what's been dubbed the "New PE." Among other things, they: Have teachers, not kids, pick teams
— using random criteria such as birthdays or clothing color, so that
unathletic or unpopular kids don't feel hurt if they're not chosen right away. Ban aggressive elimination games like dodgeball or soak 'em, where the
strong overpower the weak. Push kids to compete with themselves, not others. The
emphasis is off "beating" another person or team and on improving
one's own performance through practice and discipline. Keep everyone active. By using more equipment and smaller group sizes, educators can
eliminate situations where only a few kids move while the rest watch. Avoid using exercise as punishment, because
it sends the wrong message about exercise. If you're forced to do 20 push-ups
for talking out of turn, push-ups could become even more loathsome than you
might already think they are. — Scott McCredie |