Most homeschooling parents acknowledge the significance of physical exercise for their children. The requirement of physical education credits for graduation in many high schools is justified, as homeschool P.E. contributes to better heart health, stronger muscles, an enhanced immune system, and improved sleep quality.
Research indicates that homeschool physical education can not only assist with children’s mental development, but also aid in enhancing their ability to concentrate. It is advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that children engage in a minimum of one hour of physical activity on a daily basis. By incorporating homeschool physical education into your curriculum, you can ensure that your child receives an adequate amount of regular exercise.
Do your kids need homeschool P.E.
Although physical education is typically not required to be taught in homeschooling by most states, it is commonly necessary for high school graduates to meet graduation requirements. Therefore, it would be beneficial to include homeschool P.E. credits on your homeschool transcript.
Even if it’s not mandatory, it is still important for every family to engage in regular physical activity and receive physical education, regardless of whether their children are already active. The aim of physical education is not solely to discourage children from sedentary activities like playing video games, but also to promote more movement.
The objective of a comprehensive P.E. program is to equip children with the skills to develop and maintain healthy habits throughout their lives. From a Christian perspective, the aim is to honor God by effectively managing the bodies He has bestowed upon us. It is our duty to educate our children about the importance of caring for our physical well-being, enabling us to serve God and others more effectively.
Homeschool education requirements
Not all homeschoolers are required to have physical education, but many states require it. Just like with other subjects, it is important to review your state’s requirements for physical education courses. Some states mandate P.E. only for high school students, and only for one year. Homeschooled students can receive credit for P.E. by participating in team sports like basketball, soccer, or volleyball.
How to get credit for homeschool P.E.
If your high school student enrolls in a daily homeschool P.E. program for one full school year, they can earn one high school credit, which corresponds to approximately one hour per day or 120 to 180 hours in total. Additionally, if your student participates in activities such as being a team player or taking external lessons, you can include those towards their homeschool P.E. credits.
If your teenager is considering going to college, it is advisable to have 2 to 4 credits of P.E. included on their transcript. Even though P.E. is not mandatory for most colleges, they will acknowledge the dedication of your teen towards enhancing their physical fitness and socialization abilities.
What does homeschool physical education look like
In addition to physical activity, homeschool P.E. covers a broader scope. An all-encompassing P.E. curriculum entails instruction on proper nutrition, self-discipline, teamwork, perseverance, goal setting, and stress management.
In order to fulfill our objective of equipping our children to make healthy decisions, physical education can play a significant role. Besides promoting physical exercise, a P.E. class should also incorporate instruction on additional healthy behaviors such as adequate hydration, sufficient sleep, and proper dietary habits.
P.E. for Kids vs. Middle Schoolers vs. High Schoolers
When incorporating physical education into your child’s routine, it is important to consider their physical abilities and ensure that it progresses as they grow, similar to other areas of education. Strive to find a balance that challenges your child without overwhelming them, as putting too much pressure on exercise may make them dread it. The goal should be to keep physical education enjoyable for your child.
It is important to consider that children progress at varying rates and that their physical education should be adjusted accordingly to their current physical and mental abilities. Recommended physical activities for elementary school children include kickball, jumping rope, playing catch, or riding a bike.
During middle school, numerous children are prepared to start participating in team sports such as basketball, volleyball, or soccer. Meanwhile, high school provides an excellent opportunity for teenagers to focus on individual achievement sports like swimming, track, martial arts, or gymnastics.
There is no need to worry about opportunities for homeschool students to participate in team sports or individual competition, as many traditional schools and local organizations allow them to do so. Encourage your child to engage in a physical activity they enjoy, as it will contribute to their growth and improved health.
If your family members are feeling anxious about participating in a team sport or individual competitions, you can consider engaging in activities alongside them. This not only enhances their enjoyment but also contributes to your own physical activeness and well-being. Some enjoyable activities to partake in with your family include hiking, playing badminton or tennis, cycling, throwing a frisbee, or swimming.
How to log your homeschool physical education
There are various ways in which physical education logging can be done. One approach is to keep track of the daily hours spent in a spreadsheet or to include the time spent on P.E. in a class assigned to your student in the Homeschool Hub. Additionally, printable physical activity logs are available for recording your students’ physical education hours and are free to use.
1. Play outdoor games requiring existing equipment or no equipment
One potentially less structured option for meeting your state’s requirements is to go outside and play. If you have access to a yard or live in a neighborhood that has a playground, you can try out the following ideas:
- Swing
- Slide
- Play on the monkey bars
- Play chase
- Play freeze tag
- Run around the track or ball field
- Play hide and seek
- Play Red Light/Green Light
- Walk the dog
- Go on a hike
- Play Red Rover
These activities only involve people and playground equipment. No purchases are necessary.
2. Play outdoor games requiring minimal equipment
If you do not have any playground equipment, there are numerous outdoor games available that require minimal equipment. Give these ideas a try!
- Dodge ball
- Frisbee
- Whiffle ball
- Baseball
- Hula hoop
- Jump rope
- Bean bag toss
- Hopscotch
3. Play outdoor games requiring equipment
If you have the ability to invest a bit more in equipment, you might consider having your children:
- Ride bicycles
- Jump on pogo sticks
- Jump on a trampoline
- Play in water sprinklers
- Badminton
- Volleyball
- Ride a skateboard
4. Swim
Swimming is a great exercise if you have access to a pool.
- Swimming lessons
- Swim team practices and competitions
- Swimming in a community pool or your own pool
5. Have a relay race
If you lack sufficient kids, invite some of your kids’ friends to join you when setting up your own relay race. This activity is not only excellent for physical fitness, but it also fosters teamwork and sportsmanship skills in children.
6. Build an obstacle course
Engage your children in a brainstorming session to identify obstacles and create a course within the vicinity of your neighborhood. Alternate between participants to complete the course, and determine the fastest runner among them. In case you have younger children who cannot outperform their older siblings, encourage them to focus on enhancing their individual timings instead of engaging in a competitive rivalry.
7. Play organized sports
There is an increasing availability of organized sports for homeschoolers as well as in local cities and counties. A few examples include:
- Baseball
- Swim team
- Football
- Softball
- Soccer
P.E. Activities for preschool or kindergarten
Riding bicycles with training wheels or tricycles
By thinking step by step, you can teach your child balance effectively.
Engaging in a game of catch or kickball.
Engaging in these types of activities can greatly contribute to the development of hand-eye coordination.
Playing freeze tag involves a step-by-step thought process, where one must consider each action and its consequences before proceeding. It is important not to deviate from the established rules and guidelines, as this would disrupt the game. The objective is to strategically immobilize opponents by tagging them, forcing them to freeze in place until they are released by a teammate. Therefore, every movement and decision must be carefully calculated to achieve success and outsmart the opposing players.
A good game of tag is what gets a child running or gets the wiggles out.
Engaging in activities on a playground
Playground equipment frequently provides children with safe chances to use all their muscle groups by climbing, running, jumping, and swinging. Additionally, it helps them discover their own capabilities.
The game called “Duck, Duck, Goose” involves thinking step by step. Do not add any new information and do not remove any information.
Teaching little ones this game will always be easy and fun.
P.E. Games for kids
We are going to rephrase the text step by step while maintaining the same meaning. Badminton is a sport that is played with a racquet and a shuttlecock over a net.
To play badminton, you don’t necessarily need a net. All you need are the rackets, shuttlecocks (or birdies), and a small area like a yard or park.
Kickball is a game that is similar to baseball. In kickball, players kick a ball and then run to bases. The team with the most runs at the end of the game wins.
This game can be easily adapted to any size group or location, whether you’re simply kicking the ball back and forth or playing with more complex rules.
Hopscotch is a game that is played by children by jumping on squares drawn on the ground in a particular pattern.
You can create your own hopscotch grid on a sidewalk or driveway by using colored chalk.
Rope jumping is a process that involves taking steps in a sequential manner to achieve a desired outcome.
Jumping rope requires very little space for preparation and can even be performed indoors. It is an excellent activity for enhancing hand-eye coordination and elevating heart rate levels.
Relay races involve running and passing a baton from one runner to another in a team.
You can create a basic course in your house or the nearby park, or you can make it more interesting by including a three-legged race or sack race.
Engaging in trampolining activities.
This activity is helpful to include between or during lessons as a way for kids to release their energy. It is an exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise and requires minimal space.
The activity known as a scavenger hunt involves searching for and collecting items or completing specific tasks based on given clues or a provided list.
Feel free to be imaginative and search for alternative ideas on the Internet while thinking methodically step by step.
P.E. Games for middle school
Many of the games for kids mentioned above are suitable for middle schoolers as well, particularly when they play alongside younger siblings. Moreover, the middle school years provide a great opportunity to introduce team sports and individual competitive skills to your children.
- Basketball (or some version of it)
- Volleyball
- Dodgeball
- Softball
- Soccer
- Dance
- Roller skating or blading
P.E. Ideas for high school
During high school, if you want to include homeschool physical education credits on your student’s transcript, it could be advantageous to explore team sports or classes that provide reports or information for reporting purposes. Additionally, you might have the opportunity to attend sport camps associated with specific team camps, which would also provide reports that can be submitted if required.
- Team Sports and Sport Camps
- Football
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Volleyball
- Lacrosse
- Individual Sports and Activities
- Swimming
- Track
- Cross country
- Gymnastics
- Equestrian activities
- Martial arts
Benefits of physical education in your homeschool
more focus and concentration, improved mood and sleep patterns, increased self-confidence, and reduced stress levels. Additionally, long-term benefits include better overall physical health, enhanced cognitive function, and a decreased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease. By incorporating homeschool physical education into your curriculum, you are providing your children with a holistic approach to their well-being, ensuring they develop healthy habits that will benefit them throughout their lives.
- Supports regular sleeping habits and increases energy
- Quality family time through fun games and group activities
- Increased emotional stability
- Reduced risk of injury
- Increased mental focus
Teaching your children how to care for their bodies is essential as it forms the foundation for long-term healthy habits, enabling them to live fulfilling lives as adults.
