When we were homeschooling, my children were involved in organized sports. Every fall we did recreational soccer. Every summer the boys were involved in recreational summer swim league. When they were younger, there was also baseball in the spring. What good is all that activity?
When you are homeschooling high school, all those sports activities can be counted as physical education. Count the hours they spend in organized sports; both practice and attending games. When they have 120 hours or more, that would be a high school credit.
Organized sports can also be a wonderful way for young people to use up some of their energy, and allow them to settle down and work on sedentary studies. Some kids need more physical activity in order to study well (particularly boys). Some kids need less physical exertion in order to concentrate. You know your child best, and it doesn’t always boil down to gender.
If you notice that your child has trouble concentrating, consider some physical exertion. See if that helps!
PS. This is a fine example of the benefits of finding a homeschool mentor. I had another homeschooling parent that I met with regularly. When you are faced with an issue (“Johnny can’t seem to concentrate,”) you can brainstorm possible solutions. Nobody will really have THE answer. But when you discuss the issues with another understanding homeschooler, sometimes between the two of you, you can brainstorm the solution to the problems you face.
Check out my latest article on ezinearticle.com. It’s on homeschool high school math.
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christy says:
I seem to remember that some colleges, the Naval Academy was the one we looked at, want to see being involved in organized sports as a leadership thing.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Lee says:
Hi Christy,
Absolutely! College in general want to see academics, volunteer work, and leadership. But the military also wants to really see proof of some physical fitness. Particularly the Academies, but ROTC as well likes to see sports or other physical fitness documentation. They also LOVE to see Eagle Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, and other group experiences.
Blessings,
Lee
January 5th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
J W says:
If nothing else, a walk around the neighborhood can do wonders, and it’s cheaper than anything I can think of.
We’re blessed around here with beaches, which are not only are excellent places for walking, but are also full of balance beams and jungle gyms (i.e. driftwood and downed trees).
January 6th, 2009 at 7:34 am
J W says:
Anyone wanting to know more about the link between movement and learning can check out this book: Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head by Carla Hannaford. Apparently stimulation of the vestibular system (balance and spatial orientation) is key. I know that my challenged learner made huge leaps when we moved from a flat, landlocked city in a climate that wasn’t conducive to year-round outdoor activity (not to mention the pollution). I think all the climbing around on the driftwood and hiking all over the beaches and parks on uneven ground here gave her the stimulation she needed, and continues to benefit her.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:42 am