Those of us who went to traditional schools tend to have a love/hate relationship with physical education. If you were naturally athletic, looked great in gym shorts and adept at dodging dodge balls, you probably loved P.E. If you were uncoordinated, too skinny, too chubby or always the last one picked for the team, you were likely on the hate end of the equation.

No matter what type of experience we had when we were in school, we can make P.E. an enjoyable part of our children’s education. P.E. encourages children to live active lifestyles, and helps them build healthy habits that they will carry with them into adulthood.

Physical activity is also a great way to help children burn off their seemingly endless supply of energy. This is especially important for kinesthetic learners who need to move in order to learn. Some parents have found it helpful to begin their school day by letting their children run a few laps around the block.

A solid P.E. program should focus on helping children develop strong muscles, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility. Most experts recommend at least 1 to 3 hours of moderate to vigorous activity per day for school age children. This activity can be completed in one or two large chunks of time, or broken up into small increments throughout the day. Here are some simple, inexpensive ways to add physical education to your homeschool routine.

Stock your home with inexpensive athletic equipment like balls, jump ropes, hula hoops, and Frisbees. Allow your children to explore this equipment on their own, then show your children different ways of using the materials and introduce simple skill building activities.

Walking is suitable for children of all ages and fitness levels, and best of all – it’s free! Start with a short walk around the block, a trip to the local corner store, or even window shopping at a local mall. Gradually increase your pace and distance, and keep your walks interesting by varying route and location. If there is a lake or nature preserve nearby, combine science and P.E. by taking your kids on a nature hike.

Skateboarding, roller-skating, rollerblading, and bike riding are fun activities that can really get the heart pumping. Make sure your children wear helmets, elbow pads and knee pads, and follow other safety precautions when using wheeled equipment.

Parks provide readymade cardiovascular and strength building opportunities for students of all ages. Ladders, slides, swings, and monkey bars promote gross motor development. If your children aren’t moving fast enough to get their hearts pumping, challenge them to a game of hide and seek or freeze tag.

Physical activity is still important when it is cold or rainy outside. Dance, play a workout video, or jump on a mini trampoline indoors. Drive to a local indoor gym to shoot hoops, play volleyball, climb a rock wall, or just run around.

If you have an indoor pool within driving distance, swimming can also be a great year round activity. My family likes to take advantage of the pool during cooler months when it’s too cold for outside activity and most kids are in school.

Delegate your coaching duties and follow your children’s interests by signing them up for dance, gymnastics, karate, swimming, or other private lessons. Reduce expenses by taking homeschool classes or bartering with other homeschool parents.

In addition to fulfilling the recommended P.E. requirements, sports are great character development activities. You can find sports programs at recreation centers, YMCAs, homeschool sports leagues, and churches. If you don’t want to commit to an entire season of games and practices, sign your children up for a week long sports camp.

Some recreation centers, YMCAs, private gyms, and homeschool support groups offer P.E. classes where homeschooled children can participate in traditional group activities. If there is not a program available in your area, grab a few friends and start one.

If you have forgotten all of the rules to your favorite P.E. games, see if your library has a copy of The Ultimate Home School Physical Education Game Book by Guy Bailey. This book has suggestions for physical activities that are tailored for smaller groups of 2-4.

When adding P.E. to your home school program, start small and slowly build up to your full routine. Create a lifestyle of fitness by replacing 30 minutes of sedentary activity with a walk or bike ride. Do a few sit ups, pushups or jumping jacks in between academic subjects. Instead of lounging around after dinner, go out in the back yard and play catch or a game of tag.

Begin with activities that are suited to your child’s strengths, then gradually add variety to your routine and increase the level of difficulty. Help your children set goals for distance, endurance, or skill development that are slightly challenging, but not overwhelming. Reward your children for reaching those goals.

Most importantly, don’t be a bystander. Get on your feet and lead by example with an attitude of enthusiasm. Put away your whistle, and create a supportive, encouraging atmosphere. Make P.E. a subject that every member of your family enjoys.

Check out my article on page 18 of the new flipbook edition of Heart of the Matter Magazine.

Carletta Sanders is the devoted wife to her best friend, James, and homeschool mom to Andrew, Jasmine, and Isaiah. Her goal is to be a godly wife and mother, and to one day hear the Lord say, “Well done!” Carletta runs the popular website, www.successful-homeschooling.com, which contains over 300 pages of free information for each stage of your homeschool journey.