With one study after another highlighting the local obesity problem, it is no secret that Maltese children need to swap their tablets and TV for more physical activity.  But do not aim for the medals, Margaret Whitehead warns Sarah Carabott.

Forcing children to compete in sports could actually demotivate them, and educators should instead be inspiring children to take up some form of physical activity for life, according to the woman who coined the term ‘physical literacy’.

Margaret Whitehead’s philosophy has sparked a new movement and the 75-year-old is touring the world promoting the need of physical literacy for every child across the globe.

On her first visit to the island, she was one of the keynote speakers at a seminar for 150 established and aspiring PE teachers organised by the Institute for PE and Sport at the University of Malta.

Prof. Whitehead hopes to inspire these educators into providing their students meaningful experiences that will see them leave the class feeling they “can do it”.

She strongly believes that parallel to developing intellectual or academic literacy, everybody should be developing their physical literacy.

Although it has a philosophical ring to it, physical literacy refers to nurturing enough motivation and confidence in people that would see them take up physical activities on their own initiative.

“And it’s never too late to start. The journey is from the cradle to the grave.”

Prof. Whitehead is a prime example. Having just had her knee replaced, the former physical education teacher still goes to the gym twice weekly.

For her, the mind and the body are inextricably linked. An action like throwing a ball is not only a physical act but also one of joy that will inspire people to keep throwing that ball for the rest of their lives.

“We are born with a body, and through our body we learn to live in our environment. It is recommended that children aged between one and three have a thousand hours every year of floor time – whether it’s roaming around the house or at the playground.

If children feel they might be humiliated or fail at something, they will not want to do it again

“It is very important for children to interact with their surroundings physically. This helps in their development because it is through interaction with the environment that we become who we are.”

Sadly children are nowadays deprived of physical activity. They are put into walkers or pushchairs and they do not get a chance to move. New technology and gadgets are also stopping young people from getting physically active, while at the same time, cheap and unhealthy food is contributing to obesity and health issues.

It is very important for children to interact with their surroundings physically, says Prof. Whitehead.

Sending sportsmen to schools as ambassadors might not be the answer as this could be motivating for some students but intimidating for others. The atmosphere has to be one of encouragement and not one of comparison.

If children feel they might be humiliated or fail at something, they will not want to do it again. There are students who do not turn up on days when they have PE class and the last thing they would want to do when they finish school is to continue such physical activities.

And the experiences at school have a lasting effect, Prof. Whitehead noted: “I had an art teacher who judged the final pieces by showing them to the rest of the class. One day, she tore one of my friend’s pieces that she had been working really hard on.

“It took her 50 years to go back to art. At 65 she joined an art club and she loves it.”

Prof. Whitehead was speaking to the newspaper flanked by one of the seminar organisers, lecturer Lara Tonna.

Asked about the local scenario, Ms Tonna noted that physical education in Malta had come a long way and the culture was changing, however, there was still a long way to go.

While awareness was on the rise, especially since the recent talk on obesity, the Maltese lifestyle was holding many back: “We need to change the perception that being physically active is exclusively competing in a sport.”

In the classroom, meanwhile, some teachers were experiencing burnout. While there has been progress with the increase of equipment and facilities among others, there were recently built schools without indoor sports facilities.

“You don’t have a school without a science lab. Those aspiring to become PE teachers are very passionate, but they still face such challenges,” she said.