Health and PE: Why Fitness Matters - Monica Swanson (Homeschooling Every Subject)
"We want children who are not jaded and bored already with the work that they’ve been doing." ~ Amy Sloan
Yvette Hampton welcomes Monica Swanson back to discuss the crucial yet often overlooked subjects of Health and Physical Education (PE) in homeschooling. Monica shares valuable insights, drawing from her background in sports medicine, physical therapy, and experience as a PE teacher. Learn why these subjects are vital for your child's development and how to seamlessly integrate them into your daily homeschooling routine. Discover practical tips, biblical perspectives, and the importance of staying active from kindergarten through high school. Learn how to get your kids moving, the types of exercises that are best, and how to make health and wellness a priority in your homeschool curriculum.
Recommended Resources:
Homeschooling Every Subject Series
Homeschooling Through the Years Series
Schoolhouse Rocked Series and Topic Directory
Boy Mom: What Your Son Needs Most from You, by Monica Swanson
Well-Rounded Homeschooler Course from Monica Swanson
3 Faith Principles for Navigating Youth Sports, with Dr. Dave - Monica Swanson Podcast
Luke’s Surf Journey and Competitive Mindset, with my son, Luke - Monica Swanson Podcast
Becoming Homeschoolers – Monica Swanson on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Master “Boy Mom” – Monica Swanson on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast - Part 1 | Part 2
Healthy Homeschooling – Aby Rinella on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
The Importance of Outdoor Play - Aby Rinella on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast
1000 Hours Outside – Ginny Yurich on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Finding Hope in Depression – Rachael Carman on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast - Part 1 | Part 2
Biblical Insights into Childhood Anxiety and Depression – Dr. Rush Witt on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast - Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
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Discussion Questions:
Monica Swanson emphasizes the importance of Physical Education (PE) in homeschooling. How do you currently incorporate physical activity into your homeschool schedule?
In the episode, it is mentioned that children should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise daily. What are some practical ways you ensure your children meet this requirement?
Monica Swanson talks about the three types of exercises recommended for children: aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening, and bone strengthening. How do you incorporate each of these types into your homeschool PE curriculum?
Yvette and Monica share their experience of PE in public and private schools. How do your personal experiences influence the way you approach PE in homeschooling?
The episode discusses the potential for sports and activities to dominate family schedules. How do you balance extracurricular sports activities with other family and homeschool priorities?
Monica Swanson mentions the importance of setting a positive example for children when it comes to physical activity. How do you model healthy behaviors and exercise habits for your children?
Both Monica and Yvette talk about the importance of Health alongside PE. How do you incorporate nutrition and overall health education into your homeschool curriculum?
The episode highlights that some children may have a genetic predisposition to being less active or physically fit. How do you motivate children who are less inclined towards physical activity?
The podcast mentions the challenge of maintaining physical activity during winter or in regions with bad weather. What are some indoor activities or exercises you recommend for these situations?
Monica discussed that, as homeschoolers, it is easy to neglect teaching a variety of physical skills, such as different sports. How do you ensure a well-rounded PE experience for your children, including exposure to multiple sports and physical activities?
Intentionality in Health Education:
How can homeschool parents be more intentional about integrating health and PE into their children's curriculum?
Impact of Emotional Health:
Monica mentioned the importance of emotional health. What are some activities or practices that parents can incorporate to foster better emotional health in their children?
Correlation Between Lifestyle and Emotional Well-being:
Considering the modern lifestyle's impact on mental health, what changes can families make to promote a healthier and more balanced way of life?
Screen Time:
How does screen time affect children's emotional and mental health? What strategies can parents use to limit and manage screen time effectively?
Healthy Eating Habits:
What are some practical ways to encourage children to choose healthier snacks over junk food?
Physical Exercise:
How can families incorporate regular physical activity into their daily routine, especially if they live in areas with limited outdoor spaces?
Building Emotional Vocabulary:
Monica discussed the importance of giving kids an emotional vocabulary. What are some methods parents can use to help their children identify and express their emotions more accurately?
Role of Friendships:
How can parents help their children cultivate healthy, positive friendships, and what should parents do if their child is involved in a toxic friendship?
The Power of Gratitude:
In what ways can families practice gratitude together, and how might this help improve both individual and family emotional health?
Parental Modeling:
Monica emphasized modeling good emotional regulation. What are some ways parents can model healthy emotional responses and behaviors for their children
Reflection on Health and PE Value: How do you prioritize health and physical education in your own homeschool curriculum?
Teenage Melatonin Shift: Monica mentioned the shift in melatonin release during teenage years. How do you accommodate your teenager’s sleep needs in your household?
Sleep Needs: Given the guidelines Monica mentioned (9-12 hours for ages 6-12 and 8-10 hours for teens), how do you ensure your children are getting enough sleep? What bedtime routines have you found effective for helping your children wind down and get better sleep?
Personal Health Habits: Monica emphasized the importance of moms taking care of their own health. What are some ways you currently take care of your physical and mental health as a homeschooling parent?
Healthy Diet Tips: What strategies have you found useful in encouraging your children to eat healthier foods?
Balancing Responsibilities: How do you manage the balance between the demands of homeschooling and the need to maintain your own health and well-being?
Family Activities: What family activities do you engage in that help promote physical health and fitness?
Importance of Modeling: Monica suggests that parents model healthy behavior to their kids. What are some practical ways you can model a healthy lifestyle for your children?
Community Support: How can homeschooling communities support each other in maintaining healthy lifestyles for both parents and children? Would ideas like exercise meet-ups, healthy eating clubs, or mom’s night out focusing on wellness be beneficial?
Sponsors:
Apologia is a Christ-centered, award-winning homeschool curriculum provider. Our mission is to help homeschooling students and families learn, live, and defend the Christian faith through our print and digital curriculum and online classes.
BJU Press Homeschool is dedicated to providing homeschool families with academically strong curriculum rooted in a biblical worldview. They offer a complete curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, available in both traditional textbooks and video courses. By teaching through the lens of Christ’s power, they help students view the world through the transformative story of God’s creation
CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Start your free trial today.
The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast is a member of the Biblical Family Network. Our mission is to support and encourage the family by providing the very best podcasts on family, discipleship, marriage, parenting, worldview, culture, and education, all from a Biblical perspective. Visit the website for more great shows, like the Thinking Dad, Culture Proof, Homeschool Insights, and Made2Homeschool.
