Developing Your Child's Physical Education IEP

Overview & Synopsis

Appropriate physical education is a mandated part of a child's Individual Educational Program (IEP). It is not optional, nor should parents want it to be optional. This is the time in the day for the child to develop in a variety of ways that are very important to healthy living for the rest of his or her life. The purpose of physical education is to provide children and youth with guided experiences that promote development of physical fitness, enhance motor abilities, and foster sport and leisure activity participation. Physical education means engaging the entire body in movement. That movement should be purposeful and pleasurable. Self-concept and general social and psychological well-being should be enhanced through physical education participation. How do parents know their child's IEP is the basis for appropriate physical education? This article presents what parents need to know.