1. So… Why is PDHPE an
important subject for
our schools?
Physical Development , Health &
Physical Education (PDHPE) may seem
less “school-like” than other Key
Learning Areas (KLAs) such as
Science and Mathematics, but it still
plays just as much of an important
role as other subjects to how a
student learns in its own unique way.

2. PDHPE promotes exercise
PDHPE’s first impressions usually start from sport and games that the
students play. But why is exercise so important for peoples’ learning skills?
Here is why:
• Cardiovascular health is improved. Breathing is important for the brain.
• It controls the weight of the student ensuring they stay fit and it helps
avoid health problems such as heart disease and obesity. Healthier blood
flow is also good for the brain’s thought processes and a healthy weight
ensures healthy blood flow.
• Physical activity increases bone density levels, making your bones stronger
the more regularly (not hard out) you exercise. Let’s face it… No one wants
to waste time on physiotherapy.
• Improves movement ability. And this assists in cognitive development in the
brain, which also assists in movement
• Overall, studies have shown that physical activity is good for a positive
self-esteem. With a higher self-esteem, learning many things becomes a lot
easier for everyone (and it becomes easier to teach things too!).

3. PDHPE exercises personal &
social skills
• Along with assisting in identifying themselves, PDHPE
helps students improve on making and maintaining
friendships. This especially happens when students
are put into situations when they have to play
together to reach common goals, a game of basketball
may be enough to “break the ice” between two or
more people.
• A physical activity may not always create friendships
straight away, but it’s also a great “experimental
laboratory” for people to see what is acceptable and
what’s not, which is very important for personal and
social development.

4. PDHPE promotes
‘healthy’choices
Students in PDHPE are given guidelines on
how they should make the more health-
friendly choices. Healthy living is vital for
anyone, no matter what they do. PDHPE
helps students to make those choices
that if done well, result in a better quality
of life.

5. PDHPE teaches Safe Living
Students are taught how to perceive various danger, and
how to respond to various dangers and hazards in the
best way possible in order to avoid harm, or at least
minimise harm.

6. In the End…
PDHPE really teaches those things that
other subjects can’t teach, but assists in
teaching the other KLAs. So next time you
say PDHPE is irrelevant, think again. PDHPE
is relevant and it’s fun! Everyone knows that!