It’s always a good time to get active, said St Martin’s School headmaster Warren Venter. The role that physical activity and participation in sport plays in childhood development cannot be underestimated.
It’s an important part of the educational process. “School sport is hugely important because, for many, it’s the only physical activity they get,” Venter said. “For a generation where screens dominate our children’s time outside of school, ensuring they engage in physical activity is more important than ever,” he said and added that people have become quite a lethargic population now. “Our teens and younger children are the same. Many children go home to gated communities where they may have the privilege of playing outside with friends, but if not, they are often behind screens, playing video or phone games, doing homework, but not moving.”
Venter said the broader developmental advantages that sport provides is key. “It’s not just about winning or excelling; it’s about developing critical life skills,” he said. “Communication, teamwork, and learning to work with people who may not reason the same way you do; these are skills that extend far beyond the sports field.”
Sport, he explained, provides an organic environment for conflict resolution, a skill not easily taught through books. “You’re not always going to get along with your teammates, and that’s life. When you enter the workplace, you won’t always encounter people you like or agree with. You must learn to navigate those relationships, and the best place to learn that is on the sports field. You can’t teach conflict resolution in a book; you must experience it.”
Participation in sport also does not mean playing for the first team or excelling in traditional competitive disciplines, he noted. “There’s nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition, and of course, it’s great to win. But what are you learning if you’re only ever winning? We won’t always win in life, and if we transition from sport to the real world, we must accept that there will be losses,” he said.
Ultimately it is about participation, Venter said. “It’s about being active. You don’t have to be the best at it. It’s about getting your heart rate going,” he said. “Beyond the obvious physical benefits, there are cognitive advantages. Neurons fire when kids are active, which enhances learning.”
There are mental wellness benefits to participation in physical activity. “Sport helps children get out of their own heads,” Venter said. “For children who struggle with anxiety or ADHD, physical activity provides an outlet. My own son, who has ADHD, benefits hugely from playing sport—he burns off energy and is then able to focus on his homework. But it’s not just for kids with specific challenges; all children benefit from being outdoors, moving their bodies, and releasing endorphins. It makes them feel better.”
Participating in sport does not have to be confined to traditional disciplines. “Rather than pigeonholing children into specific sports, we should encourage them to explore different activities. Whether it’s chess, ballet, or anything else that involves movement and critical thinking. The goal is to develop a well-rounded individual who enjoys being active and benefits from the experience.”
Parents and educators together can make a positive impact by also encouraging physical activity beyond school grounds, Venter said. Simple activities like kicking a ball or following an online workout can keep children active, even in small spaces. He shared that leading by example is important, “Just as children mimic reading habits, they will adopt an active lifestyle if they see their parents’ prioritising movement By making movement a shared experience, we create healthier, happier children who carry these habits into adulthood.”