1. Teaching PDHPE in Primary Schools An important, critical and essential component in creating healthy future citizens!!

2. What is PDHPE?  PDHPE is not just sports!!! It involves many elements that roll into one which strives to teach children about several topic areas and world issues in a multidimensional way.  These include: –Safe Living –Sexuality –Growth and development –Sport –Drug education –Food and nutrition –Ethics –Relationships –Consumer Health –Health promotion –Traffic safety –Fitness and recreation

3. Living an Active and Healthy Lifestyle  Statistics show that obesity is a major health issue in Australia, not only for adults, but for children as well. For children and adolescents, the 2007-08 National Health Survey results indicate that 24.9% of children aged 5 – 17 years are overweight or obese. It is essential to teach children from a young age to live an active and healthy life, so that statistics like this are reversed. (Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing)  PDHPE promotes an active and healthy lifestyle and can ensure children are made aware of issues such as obesity so that they may make well-informed, health-conscious decisions about their own life. PDHPE does this through specific subject matter such as: –Nutrition –Growth and Development –Drug Education –Personal Safety

4. Benefits of PDHPE  PDHPE has many benefits for children as it provides them with certain life skills which are essential components of life: –Communication skills –Peer relationship skills –Values about their own well-being, self-esteem, self-efficacy and self-regulation –Problem-solving skills –Decision-making skills –Gross and fine motor skills and competencies –Understanding how to be a responsible citizen in the community.

5. AS TEACHERS WE MUST BELIEVE THAT PDHPE IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT IN OUR TEACHING PRACTICES!! WE MUST LIVE IT!! WORK IT!! EAT IT!! MOVE IT!! SO THAT OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE CITIZENS DO TOO!!!