I agree with this article. Kids in these age ranges do need physical activity to build strength, coordination, confidence, and to lay the groundwork for a healthy lifestyle. Parents are a huge factor in a child's life as to how active they become. If the parents are really active and get their children involved they are more likely to grow up and be active as well. Physical education is important because it teaches children the fundamental skills and movement concepts they need to life a long and healthy life. It also allows children to get a taste of a bunch of different sports and fitness units, which may spark an interest that the child never knew they had in that subject. Physical education also gets the children moving and active during the long school day.
As a physical educator this article reminded me how important it is to teach setting goals, meeting challenges, sportsmanship, teamwork, and the value of practice. Also it is important to teach a wide variety of skills and games that way every child will eventually touch upon a skill or game they like.