At young ages, fundamental skill development and assessment is extremely important because our children today need to grow up learning basic skills. Learning basic fundamental skills is extremely important for not only improving, but maintaining one's proper health. Obesity is a major issue in our country. "Today, almost 25% are considered to be overweight or obese, up from just 11% a decade ago." (Developmental Physical Education for All Children, Page 8) Obesity as a child has a direct correlation with obesity as an adult. According to a survey by the American Obesity Organization (2000), only 81% of parents of K-12 children are concerned with their children receiving adequate daily physical education. (Developmental Physical Education for All Children, Page 8). In my opinion, if this number isn't at 100% of parents actually caring about their child receiving adequate daily physical education, then it should at least be in the 90's.
We as physical educators, need to be responsible in leading our kids in the right direction with providing them with the proper fundamental skills. This development can not start with kids in high school. These actions of assessing and presenting these skills needs to take place from day one in school. I am not saying that the younger children of the elementary stages (K-2) need to be bombarded with multiple complex skills on a daily basis. But the most basic fundamental skills with some easy locomotion games involving running, hopping, and jumping is where it needs to be.
