Physical Education Teachers

3. Communication with parents

This step supports the idea that pupils do better in school when parents become involved in school activities and there is good communication between teachers and parents. PE teachers will learn about a range of ways that parents and teachers can communicate with each other. Establishing close communication with parents will help PE teachers better understand their pupils, and, as a result, better support them.
Parents are a great ally in our efforts to promote youth physical activity. PE teachers will get familiar with several ways of reaching and getting parents involved in PE classes and activities through thoughtful fliers, newsletters, emails and feedback to promote school programs. Parents’ involvement varies from giving their consent to their offspring’s participation in competitions to attending school sports events or participating in sports activities organized by schools. Parents play a vital role in the health of their children and can strongly influence the choices they make at school. Making good choices regarding physical activity leads to improved student health — and healthier students are better learners. Other ideas include recruiting parents to volunteer at sports events or to just have them visit a physical education lesson and participate with their children. These strategies allow PE teachers to promote physical education during school and outside of school with the adults who are most influential in the lives of youth.

Learning Objective

The learning objective of this step is to provide a range of ways that parents and teachers can communicate with each other.

Online Resources

• Physical Education OutlineThis site presents a set of rules and regulations children have to observe during PE classes and which parents have to read and sign.
• Daily physical activityIt offers guidelines on how to involve Parents/Guardians and the Community (also samples of letters of invitation etc).
• PAPE toolkitThe Physical Education and Physical Activity Toolkit was developed and designed to assist schools and communities in taking an active role in making positive changes necessary to incorporate physically active lifestyles supporting student health and student achievement.
• Developmentally Appropriate Physical Education Practices For ChildrenThis document is written for teachers, parents, school administrators, policy makers, and other individuals who are responsible for the physical education of children. It is intended to provide specific guidelines that will help them recognize practices that are in the best interests of children and those that are harmful (inappropriate).