Physical education is an integral part of promoting health and wellness for children. Through PE, kids exercise and develop their motor skills while having fun with their classmates. The World Health Organization has even suggested that kids and adolescents aged 5-17 should spend an average of one hour per day doing physical activities with moderate-to-vigorous intensity to improve overall health.

However, while PE offers many benefits, it can also increase the risks of injuries. Our previous article highlights some important things to remember to avoid injuries during PE classes, such as having a warm-up routine, ensuring activities are age-appropriate, and incorporating rest breaks. Apart from injuries, protecting children from the sun is also vital, especially during outdoor PE sessions. Below, we look at why sun safety is important in PE and how you can make your classes sun-safe.

Why Sun Safety Matters

Outdoor PE classes can expose children to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, which are harmful to the skin and eyes. Research published by the National Institutes of Health cited excessive sun exposure as the main risk factor for the development of skin cancer. Moreover, exposure to high amounts of UV rays during daytime can cause serious vision problems like cataracts and macular degeneration over time. Kids are especially at risk because according to the NIH, children’s natural defense mechanisms are not yet fully developed, making them more susceptible to sun damage like sunburn and photokeratitis which can affect school performance and compromise long-term health. Here’s what you can do to protect children from these risks:

Avoid Activities During the Hottest Hours

Doing outdoor PE activities when the sun is at its strongest can be too uncomfortable for kids, increasing their chances of sun damage. A study published in Springer Link mentioned how prolonged sun exposure at peak hours can lead to sunburn and increase the risks of skin cancer, which is why it’s important to schedule outdoor PE sessions at appropriate times. The US Environmental Protection Agency says that the sun is at its strongest between 10 am and 4 pm, so try to avoid these hours when possible. If scheduling PE classes at other times is difficult, then educators need to ensure that proper sun safety measures are taken. 

Encourage Wearing Sunglasses

Quality sunglasses are important for eye protection, and recommending a good pair to your students’ parents can help lower the risks of vision damage for kids. Sunglasses are a viable option, especially since frames like the BiSphaera and Flak 2.0 offer 100% UV protection and are equipped with the Prizm lens technology that helps reduce glare to improve contrast and overall visibility for kids outdoors. These frames are also often used by professional athletes, so they’re guaranteed to be good for sports and children who want to become athletes in the future. Remind your students and their parents what to look for in sunglasses, like UV protection and glare reduction, so that they can find the best pair for outdoor activities like running and cycling.

Teach Them about the Importance of Sunscreen 

Aside from sunglasses, it’s also important to highlight to kids the importance of sunscreen to provide better protection during outdoor PE sessions. Sunscreens are a great choice that you can recommend to students and parents, as they come in various forms and sun protection factor (SPF) levels, like the Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion and the Original SPF 70 Sunscreen Spray. The texture of these sunscreens is also smooth and not sticky, making them comfortable to apply and wear during the school day. Plus, these sunscreens exceed the American Academy of Dermatology’s recommended SPF level of 30, ensuring maximum protection. Remind your kids to bring sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and teach them to apply it to their exposed skin regularly before heading outside.

PE is a great way for kids to learn and develop healthy bodies, but make sure they’re completely protected from injuries and sun damage. Follow these tips to ensure sun protection during outdoor physical activities.

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In recent years, game-based learning (GBL) and gamification have become major trends in physical education. These strategies increase student motivation in PE classes, even making theoretical content more appealing to young learners. This is not surprising, considering how popular games like Dance Dance Revolution and Just Dance have long been proven to encourage greater movement among users.

Exercise-related games or exergames are now being designed specifically for classroom usage for PE teachers to integrate within their traditional gym classes. However, while GBL and gamification have been critical drivers of change in PE, several other technological advancements have also been integrated into the field.

We will explore four of these below.

Online Fitness Apps

Apps have become invaluable tools in the fitness industry, offering anywhere from trackers to exercise routines to access with your phone easily. In modern physical education, this translates to better consistency among students. While phone usage is typically discouraged from class, gym teacher Seth Wolf in Wishek found a way to incorporate workout app PLT4M in his sessions. This provided his students with a comprehensive weight and conditioning training platform.

Here, students were given access to structured workout plans and instructional videos, allowing them to perfect their weightlifting techniques. With step-by-step guidance and performance tracking, PLT4M allows students to monitor their progress and receive real-time feedback. Thanks to the app taking on a considerable load in instruction, gym teachers can focus on accommodating and fostering mastery of exercises among students of varying levels.

Wearable Tech

Smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch, or fitness trackers, like the Fitbit Charge, are a type of wearable technology. These can monitor the user’s health stats, including heart rate and step counts, thus empowering students to take charge of their fitness goals. PE teachers can use this data to tailor their instruction to individual needs and gain real-time insights into the physical well-being of their students.

Wearable tech doesn’t stop at fitness trackers but also extends into smart glasses. These allow users to take hands-free photos and videos. PE teachers can use these devices to maximize online classes — providing students with a first-person perspective of the workout. These glasses can also be used for live streaming, as well as receiving and responding to student clarifications in real time without interrupting the routine. As a result, online PE can become more interactive and practical.

Video Analysis Software

Video analysis software, like Kinovea or Vernier, annotates and measures motion in videos for coaches and athletes to monitor their performance. This technology similarly enables instructors to record and review students’ movements during various sports and exercises. By providing instant visual feedback, teachers can help students perfect their techniques.

Such software can be a game-changer, particularly for asynchronous online PE classes, which rely on video submissions for grading. Teachers can use the software to break down complex movements step by step and better pinpoint areas that need improvement. Students can also watch their performance and compare it to ideal examples, thus promoting self-awareness and critical thinking and empowering students to refine their skills independently.

AR/VR Tech

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies transport students to virtual fitness environments to engage in realistic simulations and challenges. These immersive technologies provide students with opportunities for self-directed learning, allowing them to take the initiative, explore different scenarios, experiment with exercises and sports, and define their targets within the simulation. This can significantly help with engaging and motivating young children.

When combined with fitness tracking features, AR/VR tech can track user movements and provide real-time feedback on performance, as seen with the Oculus Quest VR headset and Oculus Move. Students can better monitor their workout duration, calories burned, and overall fitness improvements, creating a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep moving.

With these tools, educators can empower students to excel in their PE journeys. The future of PE is full of exciting possibilities as we anticipate technology’s rapid growth in the digital age.

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To summarize, the studies indicate that kids in PE classes are significantly more likely to lead and maintain active lifestyles — which in turn goes a long way toward combating childhood obesity and negative long-term habits. While boosts in physical activity are evident and beneficial, it is also clear that many PE classes miss the mark when it comes to more comprehensive health education. In other words, PE encourages kids to be more active, but it does little to educate them on why this is beneficial, or what other habits they could be practicing to lead healthy lifestyles.

So, why should health education as a component of PE matter?

The clearest answer is that a more comprehensive approach to health education makes for a more effective PE course. In fact, research from a health education professor at the University of Texas led to the conclusion that PE typically needs to be “multifaceted and holistic” if it’s to be effective. This means incorporating education on, among other things, “healthy-living and nutrition” on top of the more conventional “gym class.” The research in question simply found that a raw focus on physical activity had less of an impact on overall, long-term health.

In a more general sense, including health education is also an effective means of teaching children self-assessment in a way that can benefit their long-term wellness. ‘The Power of Self-Assessment” in children is extensive and applies to numerous aspects of their development. But it can undoubtedly spur improvement and the formation of good habits where health is concerned. Daily PE instills an almost subconscious desire in kids to be active; it makes it normal to have physical activity each day. But teaching health concepts will give them things to consciously reflect on, Children undergoing health education will learn to consider what they’re eating, what general health habits they’re practicing, and so on.

These benefits are easy to understand and difficult to dispute. But how can PE instructors and school systems more broadly get to a point at which health education is part of the program?

One answer in the near future might be to employ more school nurses as resources for existing PE and health teachers. Far beyond our school systems, a deep and wide-ranging need for more nurses is leading to a big push for a broader workforce. Alongside traditional nursing schools, online programs are now aiding this effort and helping to prepare countless candidates for a whole range of specific careers related to nursing. Again, this is happening regardless of any need in schools specifically. At the same time however, the nursing careers listed on Maryville University do happen to show some positions that would be useful to supplement health education in schools. These include public health nurses (typically hired for non-profits or community health centers) or nurse educators (who are actually qualified to teach entire health-related courses). To be clear, these roles are not suited to replace existing health or physical fitness education in schools. But as we continue to see more graduates focusing on these disciplines, it may be that more schools will hire nurses, in part to assist PE and health teachers with additional elements of education.

Aside from pointed, specific moves like hiring nurses or similarly qualified health educators though, what we need to see is more of a philosophical shift in how schools approach this topic. Once again, the benefits of physical education are clear — but they are limited. Should school administrators recognize this and make a decision to blend PE with instruction relating to nutrition and personal health, it will be a meaningful step toward improving the long-term wellness of students. This decision could lead to different specific changes in different schools. Some might simply equip PE teachers with materials and information to conduct health education; some may hire nurses or similarly qualified professionals; others still may rely largely on texts or digital materials to further health education.

Whatever the specific results though, recognizing and acting on the need for more comprehensive health education in PE is vital to our children’s health and lifestyles.

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