Physical education can provide a number of benefits for all children but especially children with Special needs. Children need to be physically active to create a healthy lifestyle from the start. In this article we look at why physical activity is so important for children with special needs.
Physical improvements
Children suffering from cognitive disabilities are most likely going to suffer from physical impairments as well. The children will often have problems with motors skills such as hopping, jumping and skipping. Sports, dance and gymnastics will develop the fundamental and fine motor skills for the child. They will need to strengthen their muscles, bones and joint and through physical activity there will be a vast improvement. Physical activity can assist in getting their bodies to function optimally. Sometimes the disability that they have can become worse if they do not take part in physical movement, moving will build their muscle and joint strength as well as enable their bodies to become more flexible.
Self-esteem
Creating confidence and a higher self-esteem is important for all children, especially children who may feel different to others. Allowing the children to work in an environment where their contribution is important to an overall result will help this. It will also improve their self-image and confidence within other areas of their school life. Allowing them to work with other children will build confidence in building friendships, holding conversations and working with others to reach a goal.
Cognitive benefits
The hands-on approach of Sports leads to improvement of children’s cognitive skills, they will discover strengths that cannot be challenged in a traditional classroom setting. The organisation and rules of sports, can be used as a learning tool to regulate self-practice and decision making.
Mental benefits
Physical education will improve the child’s mood and wellness. They will feel they have accomplished something new, they will develop their communication skills, build new friendships, practice self-regulations and decision making. Within the classroom children are mainly working alone, PE allows them to integrate with all the children in the class, this builds their confidence in communication with others.
It is important to remember that although the children have special needs to not just assume they cannot do something that the other children can do, allow them to have a go and work closely with them to adapt if it is too hard for them. Physically they may not be able to do the same, so find a way of adapting so as they are able to participate within the PE session still. These are just a few benefits to physical activity for children with a disability.
