Maureen Weiss, professor in the School of Kinesiology and co-director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, published in the National Academy of Kinesiology Papers on Bridging Kinesiology and Society. In Weiss’s paper, “Teach the Children Well: A Holistic Approach to Developing Psychosocial and Behavioral Competencies through Physical Education,” she argues that school physical education is an important context for promoting both motor skill development and health and fitness outcomes, rather than having to adopt an either/or approach. To accomplish both objectives, Weiss contends that a positive youth development approach, featuring supportive teacher behaviors, a positive classroom climate, and skill-building activities, is optimal to helping students acquire psychosocial and behavioral competencies that can transfer to other life domains currently and with increasing age.

The full reference is: Weiss, M.R. (2011). Teach the children well: A holistic approach to developing psychosocial and behavioral competencies through physical education. Quest, 63, 55-65.