I sometimes hear from school teachers that they

“want to raise the average score on physical fitness tests.”

I understand that feeling well.

We want to improve children’s physical strength. To do that, we want to know their current state. Physical fitness tests are one clue for that purpose.

However, when looking at the resulting numbers, I sometimes wonder.

What is it that we are really seeing from physical fitness tests? For example, if the grip strength number is low,

then the response is, “Let’s train grip strength.”

If the 50m dash time is slow,

then the response is, “Let’s run more.”

Of course, that is one method.

But beyond those numbers,

perhaps we can see something a little different. How much does this child usually use their body?

What do they do during recess?

What kind of games do they play with their friends?

In their school life, how many opportunities do they have to run, jump, or support their body with their hands?

When we think about it in that way, the physical fitness test numbers

become a starting point for observing children’s daily lives. In PE class the other day, I included floor scrubbing in the circuit training. When I made it a slalom course, the children moved their bodies happily.

Pushing the floor with their hands, keeping their bodies low, and changing direction.

However, the children are not scrubbing the floor “to improve their physical strength.”

They are simply moving while playing.

I believe that after these experiences accumulate, the results of physical fitness tests may change. Therefore, instead of just looking at the results of the physical fitness test and thinking,

“What should I make them do to raise their scores?”

try thinking,

“What kind of daily life can we see from these numbers?”

Physical fitness tests may not just be for ranking children, but also a window into understanding their bodies and lives. Numbers do not represent everything about a child.

That is precisely why, after looking at the numbers, we should look at the children themselves once more.

What we can see from physical fitness tests.

That may not exist only within the numbers, but on the other side of them.

※The images of children were created using AI.