{
  "id": 4808808,
  "title": "Recognizing the value of phys-ed for kids",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/recognizing-the-value-of-phys-ed-for-kids",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T07:00:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/09/01/recognizing-the-value-of-phys-ed-for-kids"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The value of physical education for children is a message that Premier Wab Kinew and Education Minister Tracy Schmidt recently emphasized, but it is not a new concept. Ancient philosopher Plato once stated that both education and physical activity are essential for achieving success in life, and this idea has been echoed by provincial leaders in recent times. The reintroduction of daily physical education into our schools may only be effective if everyone - including children, their families, schools, and healthcare professionals - prioritize physical health. Our physical well-being is connected to our overall well-being, including our sense of self.\n\nHowever, the implementation of this promise for our children has been challenging. Often, physical activity at school focuses on sports rather than fundamental aspects of physiological health, such as heart and lung health. Research from the late 1970s confirmed that the real benefit of a good workout lies in aerobic exercise, which raises heart and breathing rates significantly.\n\nIn 1990, a teacher in Naperville, Illinois, began an exercise program featuring aerobic exercise for students beginning in the fifth grade. This program allowed students to track their own fitness, leading to remarkable results. By 1999, the Naperville school district had all its students participate in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, with Naperville district Grade 8 students scoring number one in the world in science and number six in math, an unprecedented achievement for an American public school.\n\nThe Naperville study demonstrated that physical activity helps children concentrate in class and has several other benefits, including the creation of new brain cells – a concept once believed impossible. Aerobic exercise lasting 20 minutes can lead to substantial improvements. In Canada, Saskatoon’s City Park Collegiate was the first Canadian school to demonstrate the benefits of using aerobic exercise as a starting point for learning, resulting in miraculous academic and behavioral improvements. Aerobic exercise increases essential hormones for mental health, such as serotonin, helping students manage stress and overcome increasing obesity levels, depression, and anxiety among young people. Despite the numerous benefits, human beings struggle to change their behavior despite abundant information and relevant advice. The ParticipAction Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth (2026) serves as a recent plea for increased physical activity among kids, addressing their current status as the most inactive age group in the country.",
  "summary": "The message from Premier Wab Kinew and Education Minister Tracy Schmidt last week about the importance of exercise for young people was timely and important — but it is not […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}