It’s a known fact that most children like to stay active. This is true for both preschoolers and kids in grade school. Kids are typically full of energy that needs to be channeled in a certain way, be it in the park, in the gym, or at home. As a parent, you can find many ways to encourage and shape the way your kid uses physical activity. You want to stay informed about their development and whether they need some extra help.
This is where communicating with your kid’s teacher is crucial. Their role isn’t only to monitor their performance and discipline them. There are various important questions that you can ask to stay informed about your kid’s progress and keep everyone on the same page. Here are some of the questions for your kid’s teacher about their physical development:
What physical skills and skill combinations are being taught?
Depending on the age group, teachers will reinforce activities that develop a certain group of skills. For instance, for preschool kids, the emphasis is usually on gross-motor skills. This involves running, throwing, jumping, kicking, climbing, crawling, skipping obstacles. Of course, both elementary school kids and preschoolers need to develop fine motor skills as well. This usually involves drawing, cutting with scissors, using tools, writing. The PE class will generally focus on gross motor skills.
How do you evaluate students in PE class, and how often do you evaluate them?
One of the principal responsibilities of any teacher is to keep track of the performance of the class. While assessment might come with grades, it’s more important to identify areas where your kid can thrive and where he or she struggles. The grading system may encourage competition and boost self-esteem in some kids, all the while having an opposite effect in others.
Teachers should find creative ways to encourage the whole group to stay active and work on developing new skills. This way, everyone will have the chance to excel and have fun at the same time.
What is the balance of activities that you use to teach physical skills?
Experienced teachers and coaches know how to balance between activities in terms of intensity. Experts from a local fun park in Henderson recommend a healthy balance between gymnastics, problem-solving, dance, exploration, jumping, throwing, and other pursuits.
Is my kid struggling with physical activity?
If you’re in any doubt about your kid’s physical prowess, your teacher will openly tell you whether they’re shy, anxious, or struggling with a particular skill combination. In all such cases, they will recommend ways in which you can talk to your kid or exercise at home.
What is your approach if a child is struggling socially in PE class?
A huge part of physical activity in school is social. This can involve group warmups, group sports, such as soccer, football, volleyball, or basketball, dance practices, and many more. Your kid could struggle with fine motor coordination, or feel inadequate or out of place among his or her peers. It’s important to address this early on, so don’t fret about asking your kid’s teacher this question.
How can I reinforce physical skill development at home?
Homework isn’t only about math, English, and science class. Many kids can practice certain skills, such as throwing a ball, rolling, or skipping rope in their back yard or in a local park. Based on the curriculum and the performance of your kid, your teacher will tell you what skills to focus on. Normally, your kid might feel more encouraged to try out some new skill at home, under your supervision.
How can we stay in touch about my kid’s progress?
Normally, you can count on your kid’s teacher to give you a summary of important points during a 10-minute consultation. Of course, they can give you a written handout, or give you a call, if you need some quick advice and support while practicing with your kid.
The bottom line is to make the best decisions for your kid, avoid misunderstandings, and improve PE class attendance. This way, your can be sure that your child will thrive and find pleasure in staying active, developing life-long healthy habits, and a positive sense of self.