The importance of physical education in a child’s upbringing

The child needs to practice types of sports appropriate for his age, physical condition, and physical and psychological readiness, but the child in the Arab world does not practice sports in a deliberate or systematic manner until after entering school, where schools allocate classes for physical education that vary from stage to stage as determined by specialization methodologies Physical education for each stage according to scientific foundations.

Physical education occupies an advanced place in the lives of peoples and nations and plays an important and essential role in the daily life of man until it has become one of the most powerful weapons of the state to raise its children and prepare them for a happy and contented life.

Developed countries attach particular importance to this aspect for realizing these facts and absorbing them with a new horizon that aims to achieve real happiness for citizens and nurture it in the early stages and build the mature and integrated personality of the citizen.

Physical education is an art of public education that aims to develop the individual mentally, physically and psychologically, based on educational goals closely related to the individual’s social life and his necessary needs.

In a special study for the “International Islamic Forum for Education” by researcher Hanan Attia on “Physical Education and its Impact on Child Education”, she discusses the importance of sports and play in children’s lives, and what sports and games are appropriate for each age stage.

physical education term

The term physical education appeared for the first time in the doctoral thesis of the French researcher Balikesir, and it meant the method that ensures health and safety for children through taking care of food, clothing and physical exercise. And the aesthetic in addition to the moral and behavioral aspects.

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Physical education has several benefits for humans in general, whether large or small; Comprehensive aspects of human life, including:

physical aspect; It works to increase and develop the physical efficiency of the individual, by learning new skills and sports exercises, which positively reflect on the individual’s physical and psychological health, and accustom the individual to healthy habits that benefit him, such as maintaining health and proper physical stature, and helping the individual to develop some physical characteristics such as Speed ​​and strength. Exercise avoids diseases and treats diabetes, depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, and arthritis; There are many, many books and research papers that speak and examine the relationship between exercise therapy from chronic diseases and cancer.

social aspect; Strengthening the spirit of social competition, and encouraging the individual to cooperate with others.

The mental aspect: building and forming the personality of the individual by providing him with knowledge and some educational values, concepts and trends, and by providing the individual with theoretical, health and aesthetic knowledge.

The economic aspect: improving the economic situation; An individual who has good physical strength will have priority in work and in production, where basically sport encourages the individual to love, respect and value work.

Psychological aspect: It works to enhance the psychological and cognitive aspect of the individual by accustoming the individual to patience, relieving him of violence by unloading his energy in sports and changing the daily routine that the individual feels, and developing positive trends through the practice of sports activities.

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child physical education

Perhaps lack of physical activity among children has become a common phenomenon, as they spend most of their day watching TV, playing computer games and talking on the phone. Unfortunately, the tremendous technological development has led to negative side effects, as more and more children and adults prefer to sit and relax, and do not do any physical activity. In a study by the British Heart Foundation, one in three children between the ages of 2 and 7 were not doing the minimum recommended levels of physical exercise; At the age of 15, two thirds of girls do not exercise. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children watch about 3 hours of television per day. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the results of the study conducted by the Physical Sports Laboratory at King Saud University, on exercise among pre-adolescent boys, showed that 57% of them do not exercise. The results are similar in most countries of the Gulf region. The American Heart Foundation also notes that lack of physical activity is one of the most dangerous causes of non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and diabetes. It therefore recommends that children and teens get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day.

The importance of exercising

Studies have confirmed that exercising brings many physical, psychological and social benefits to the child, just as it is with the elderly. Practicing physical activity can help children and young people to achieve coordination, and the safety of building bones, muscles and joints, which helps to control body weight and lose weight. overload.

The practice of motor activities increases the student’s ability to learn, through its effects on mental abilities. According to what many studies indicate, students who participate in school sports competitions are less likely to practice some unhealthy habits, such as smoking or drug abuse, And more opportunity to continue studying and achieve academic excellence and reach the highest academic levels .

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The issue of school sports, its activation and interest in it, is a responsibility that rests with everyone, such as parents and the Ministry of Education. Developed countries grant sports excellence or the superior in sports scores that help him enter universities, institutes, or private schools, or offer him scholarships .

There are countries that give sports a great interest in schools and universities, and care and help those who excel in sports, morally, financially and academically.

The importance of play and sports for children and their benefits

It is easy to convey the consensus of most educators on the importance of play and movement and their important role in the development of the child’s physical, mental, moral and social strengths. In the field of mental development of the child: Research has proven that children who have the potential and opportunities to play, their minds grow more and faster than others who did not have these opportunities and those possibilities.

In the field of developing and activating physical forces, children’s play gives them motor skills, jumping, running, climbing, racing and other physical activities from which the child acquires motor abilities, in addition to that playing contributes significantly with food to increasing the child’s weight and size and helps in the growth of his bodily systems different. As for the social and moral aspect, the child’s practice of playing among a group of peers helps him to adapt socially, accept the group’s opinions, give it preference to oneself, get rid of selfishness and self-love, as well as the emergence of leaders among children, and learning their methods and ways of practicing them. The various matches between children are a good area to distract them from aggressive feelings .

Imam Al-Ghazali pointed out the importance of playing, and he was aware of that in terms of urging the child to seek knowledge, and not to be alienated from him. He said, may God have mercy on him, “It should be permitted for him, after leaving the book, to play beautiful games that relieve him of the fatigue of the office so that he does not get tired in playing, For preventing a boy from playing and making him tired of education always kills his heart, nullifies his intelligence, and makes life difficult for him, until he asks for a trick to get rid of him head on.” This is an important gesture from Imam Al-Ghazali that shows the effect of playing on the intellectual activity of the child, and that it provides comfort to the mind from the abundance of indoctrination, just as its neglect harms the child and restricts him in his life, and motivates him to take the illegal trick. And he, may God have mercy on him, said about the importance of movement and sports for a child: “In some days he becomes accustomed to walking, movement and sports so that laziness does not overpower him.”

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Some of the sages said: “Moderate character and proportionate structure are evidence of the strength of the mind and the quality of intelligence.” Muscular exercises that precede intellectual work often improve it and increase its activity. On the other hand, they develop muscle mass and increase their ability to resist. They also increase the size of the bones, and facilitate the speed and agility of movements. From the foregoing, we find that physical exercise is necessary to prepare physically and mentally fit individuals. , gaining a moderate stature, and giving the circulatory and circulatory system good efficiency while protecting the body from diseases; The International Charter of Physical Education and Sports stipulates in its first article that sport is a fundamental right for all, and that programs for physical education and sports must be provided for pre-school children. These are sufficient and clear evidence of the importance of this aspect in the life of the child, as the father bears the greatest responsibility in preparing and creating the appropriate atmosphere for his son, in order to exploit his energies and physical abilities in the practice of various games and physical activities that benefit him .

School students confirm that sports activity is their favorite among all school activities, and that sports activity receives the attention of school administrations, which are responsible for providing the appropriate facilities for practicing this activity, especially the planted football fields, as many schools lack these stadiums; Many students are forced to play in sandy playgrounds that expose them to injuries, and many students demanded that the sports class be daily and main, and that it not be a reserve class for other subjects, and that each school should have a gymnasium that is open even in the evening shift .

Hardly any educational system on the face of the earth is devoid of forms of sports activity. Physical education has become an educational employment of high value and effectiveness.

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Physical education in Islam

1- Teaching swimming, archery and horse riding:

In fulfillment of the Almighty’s saying: {And prepare for them whatever strength and bonds of horses you are able} (Al-Anfal: 60).

And on the authority of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, he said: “The horses are tied with good forelocks until the Day of Resurrection.”

It was reported on the authority of Umar – may God be pleased with him – that he said: “Teach your children swimming and archery and instruct them to jump on horseback.”

There are some limits to this kind of sport in Islam, including:

• Finding balance, that the child’s athletic relationship be within the limits of moderation and balance with all other duties without one side dominating the other.
• Observing the limits of God in that the clothing covers the nakedness, and observance of the limits of God in all actions.
• The liberation of good intentions, that this training be all with the intention of physical strengthening in truth and goodness.
• All the sport occupied their religious duties .

2- Conducting sports competitions among children:

This method is one of the encouraging methods for conducting commendable competition among children because of the benefit that it brings to their developing bodies. The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, used to conduct running competitions among children.

3- For to adults play with young children and children

If children want to play with adults; Adults must meet this, and while playing, we must submit to the leadership of the young, and accept the idea or plan they draw, and we do not impose on them what we want in play, and while playing with them we can direct his play and activity with tact and understanding, and we try to instill and direct the child to what we want And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was keen to play with the little ones, and he varied in playing with them, one time they played by running, and one time by carrying on the back, and so on.

4- Children playing with children

When the parents are busy in the midst of life, and refuse to live with the desires of their children or are not attentive to satisfy the desire of their children, in this case the children go out to play, but the parents choose for their children whom they play with so that they are not affected by unruly children.

For every age, there is a suitable sport

And sports in general are useful, as these physical activities help the integrated development of the child because it increases his motor capabilities and improves his emotional balance and self-confidence, and it teaches him the collective life and develops his relationships with other children, and sometimes brings him out of his isolation and loneliness, and some parents fear for their children from their attachment to sports and that it It occupies most of their time and may lead to their failure to study. It has been found that exercising in a balanced manner for about an hour a day improves school results for children, but is there an appropriate place or time and what kind of sport should be practiced?

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Sports activity must be appropriate to the age of the child, for example, the infant has a love to discover control over the body and its surroundings, later sports become team games with its own laws and techniques, and before practicing any kind of sport we must monitor the child and ensure his health in general

You can motivate your child, starting from the age of 3, to practice non-competitive sports such as cycling, dancing, running or doing some gymnastics. By age 5, your child will often be able to toss, run and jump, but will have difficulty following objects, estimating distances, or even catching the ball well. This is also the right age for your child to start learning to swim .

Even if your child is young, you can identify through some indications of the sports he enjoys, and then observe how he spends his spare time at home: does he enjoy jumping, climbing, or moving with his hands or feet, or does he prefer outdoor activities such as swimming and playing ball?

In this context, parents should let the child try several activities until he can determine the activity he prefers. It is known that a child is not born a sports lover, but of course he has a certain skill that we must try to discover. So, let your child experiment and be patient if he finds it difficult to choose a particular sport or stick to it, as it often takes several experiments .

At a young age, it is not possible to distinguish between a sport for boys and another for girls. If your child wants to play football or if your son wants to play gymnastics, let them do what they want, and make them feel that you support them, whatever sport they choose. The contribution of physical education is a prerequisite for keeping pace with the academic path because it is the basic education inherent in the child, which contributes greatly to the development of the skill side in all its dimensions “perception, control, coordination, balance, response” in addition to other factors such as “speed, resistance, persistence, flexibility, strength.” ».

What types of activities can children do?

The activities that a child can do are very many, during each stage of development he learns and acquires new movements and activities. For example, a two-year-old child can jump, run, walk, roll and make other movements. Physical exercise does not mean regular sports, it can be walking, running, swimming, climbing or even just playing games such as hide and seek and ball games. These activities are not tiring and count a lot of benefits for the health of the child.

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Dr Joanne Welsman, Deputy Director of the Children’s Research Centre, and child health expert at the University of Exeter, UK, believes that inactive children are more likely to become inactive as adults, so inculcating the habit of being active at a young age is vital and necessary. For this reason, you should set a time to exercise with your child, preferably every day. For children under 5 years of age, an hour or two of irregular exercise will suffice.

Tips to motivate your child to be active :

1. It is normal for your child to imitate you, so be active and set a good example.
2. Reduce the time your child spends watching TV and using computers.
3. Establish a daily routine for you and your child to walk or exercise together.
4. Encourage activity, by playing with your child and spending quality time with the family.
5. Allow your child to help you with daily routine tasks. This also teaches him responsibility and gets him moving around the house.
6. If your child has any condition that could affect physical exercise, you should consult your doctor first.
7. Allow your child to exercise at their own pace. Do not rush or force them to do something if they are not ready to do it.
8. Encourage your child to participate in age-appropriate activities.
9. Make sure your child is safe while exercising, do not let them near any equipment, they must be supervised by an adult while swimming, and they must wear a helmet when cycling.
10. Remember to make sports fun for your child to enjoy .

Sports and some risks to the child

It is nice for the child to play a sport that he loves, but it must be noted from the impact of this game on his study or his safety, and there is no doubt that sport is necessary for the child from a young age, but there are some risks that may affect your child negatively, and the mother must pay attention to them to treat and correct them, and they are as follows:

• The child may be attached to a sport and occupy his time with it a lot, which may adversely affect his studies.
• The absence of parents or coaches near the children may lead to various accidents depending on the type of sports activities the child engages in.
• Some children have deformities in the spine, limbs, or others, or chronic diseases in the chest, heart or brain, and this needs not to engage in some sports activities that may increase the size of the problem.
• Mixing with some colleagues in the sports forum may positively or negatively affect the child.

Every child has a sport that suits his nature

Children differ from their nature and behavior, and this is due at the same time to the nature of the social environment in which they are raised and to the genetic factors in which they are born. Taking care of children and helping them to develop their own personality, which was carried out by the French scientist Christian Mondal, who is specialized in the field of children’s sports. This study enables parents to choose the appropriate sport for their child according to his inclinations and temperaments of each child, for example:

– Football for the friendly kid

For those who have a friendly child and loves to be friends with people quickly, the mother is advised to direct towards football starting from the age of 7 because it helps him to crystallize his natural inclinations to put his choices and personal characteristics at the service of the community, but at the same time prevents him from falling into the trap of blind imitation.

Judo is a stubborn and irritable child

It is recommended to go to judo starting from the age of six because it teaches him that the measure of strength is not in the one who attacks, but the strength in controlling the nerves and when the appropriate moment comes to prove his ability and strength.

Horse riding for a child who sticks to his opinion

If your child is stubborn and loves domination and adherence to his opinions, or in other words, if his head is solid, it is recommended to direct towards the sport of horse riding, starting from the age of eight, because it teaches him discipline and approach without curbing his aspirations towards leadership and the desire to always take control of things .

Physical education for disabled children

Sports, as it is important for a normal child, is more important for a disabled child. There is no doubt that the disability affects its owner, whether he was born with it or suddenly appeared in his life as a result of an accident or disease he suffered. It reduces his ability and affects his psyche and makes the owner unable to integrate with society. He always feels helpless and weak from within, and this affects him by introversion, calmness and isolation from his community and those around him, but all this was in the past, but now the disabled person’s view of himself is different, and thus he was able to change the world’s view of him and this affected him positively, so he was able to discover in himself what pushes him forward .

Hence the role of sport. Dr. Guthman was a supporter of the idea that “sports can help people with disabilities to restore their physical and moral balance, make them integrate into society and develop their physical and mental capabilities.” This was during the war.

Many of the problems of the disabled are related to the psychological and social aspect to a very large extent. When the child plays sports, this gives him the ability to integrate with others and through it he can prove to those around him that he is able to excel in something that a non-disabled person may not be able to do or excel in and that he has The abilities and capabilities that, if exploited, will make him gain the admiration of others and make him feel appreciated and respected, and thus he can change from a state of weakness and despair and a sense of inferiority and impotence complex and that he has something to compensate and make him excel and excel in it.

Experience has proven that physical education has the best effect on abnormal children – whether they suffer from motor deficits or are weak-minded – in the first group it verifies instability and lack of accuracy in movements, and at the same time allows facilitating the education of these jobs, and in the second group it facilitates coordination The motor responses in which the emotions are expressed, provide them with regularity and enable them to be controlled little by little.

Even from a purely intellectual point of view, learning movement and developing motor skills leads to a special form of attention and perseverance – and the will to succeed at the same time. Audacity and skill exercises develop composure, speed of determination and self-confidence, but rather create a kind of astonishment that can be an element of strength in the personality.

The education that takes place with the group requires order and collective coordination of movements, and that coordination is facilitated by the instinct of imitation, which is an important factor in the integration of the child by preparing for the demands of joint work. In addition to this, the pleasure that the child and adolescent find in physical exercises, which develops in them a taste for healthy pleasures and nature.