1st Blog Post

Hi Abby! 

Thank you so much for your great post. I think you make an excellent point about the importance of a more inclusive approach to physical education. While a sport-focused model works well for some, it can be discouraging for students who don’t feel confident in competitive settings. Expanding PHE to include a variety of activities like dance, yoga, or hiking could help more students find a deeper passion for movement and let them build a lifelong appreciation for staying active. As a dancer, I personally would have loved if my PHE classes included more variety and less of a focus on competitive sport.

I also really loved your emphasis on the link between physical activity and mental well-being. Wendy Suzuki’s research is a great example of how movement can boost mood, memory, and focus. Such a great Ted Talk! Overall, I really feel that if educators had a deeper understanding of these benefits, schools might prioritize PHE more, helping students not just physically but academically and emotionally too. 

I look forward to reading more of your thoughts on active health as the semester progresses!