By Sheppard Healthy Shark reporters | Group activities and team sports help you work together and promote cheering each other on, says Mr. David McGhee, health and physical education teacher at Sheppard.
Being in group activities helps you manage stress and gives you a feeling you’re not alone, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic, a hospital and research institution.
When you participate in group activities, it provides you with encouragement to keep going. For example, you may not love running, but it can be more enjoyable when you can talk with a friend while running, according to Dr. Laurie Friedman Donze from National Institutes of Health. Also, the organization’s article “Ways to Improve Your Child’s Mental Health Game in Sports,” says that “while most sports involve winning or losing, it’s important to focus on having fun and how the game is played.”
Healthy Shark reporters interviewed Mr. McGhee about the importance of group activities and sharing experiences with others. Below is the Q&A; responses have been edited and shortened for the article.
Q: What kinds of group activities are good for students’ physical health?
Mr. McGhee: Group activities that are good for a student’s health are obstacle courses and relay races. We used to do them around Thanksgiving time for the Turkey Trot. It was a school activity where the students did eight to nine different obstacles.
Q: What kinds of group activities are good for a student’s mental health?
Mr. McGhee: Group activities that are good for students’ mental health would be team sports. It gives them an opportunity to help each other and assist each other when they need help. Some team sports would be soccer, baseball, or basketball.
Q: What are your favorite group activities to do with students and why?
Mr. McGhee: Team sports are my favorite group activities because I have been part of many teams and sports in my life. It’s a great experience to be part of a team. You get to build friendships and teamwork skills. That’s why I try to encourage you to be part of a team.
Q: What advice would you give to kids who are nervous about doing a group activity?
Mr. McGhee: I would say to try your best. It takes time to learn things. Sooner or later, you will get it. Since you are all so supportive and helping, your friends are there to help you. You also don’t know, your friends could be nervous too.
Q: Is there anything you would like to add?
Mr. McGhee: Physical activity and sports are going to teach you a lot of lessons in life that you get to use when you get older.
Illustration by Julianys, 4th grade, Sheppard, 25-26.
