I am a big believer in physical activity for children. Children today don't get enough exercise. They seem to be suck on the couch watching TV, playing video games or surfing the net. In my house, if it's nice out you better be outside.There are many benefits to promoting exercise to your child. Exercise improves your child's overall health in many ways. It helps builds stronger bones and muscles, builds a leaner body which helps control body fat, lowers the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol. It can even lower the risk of some
types of cancer. Inactivity is also a major risk factor in heart disease.The benefits of exercise are not only physical, but also emotional. Exercise helps to improve your child's self-esteem. Games that involves taking turns, such as baseball, helps to develop social skills. Be on a team also gives a child a sense of belonging.
A physically active child is better able to handle stressful situations, whether they be physical or emotional. Exercise is a great stress reliever for a child who is having emotional issues such as being bullied at school or the divorce of parents.
I personally think the best thing about exercise is that it helps your child sleep better at night and is more likely to not wake up in the middle of the night.
5 comments:
yes thats actually true, I have to make an effort to take my kids out as much as I could. My daughter seems to be a Television addicted but I'd notice that she have more fun outside.
I am a big believer in children doing physical acitivities. I am finding it harder to get the kids outside to play. They have a trampoline to jump on which is great but the backyard pool seems to be the hit this summer. It's the only thing that will keep them out most of the day.
They are also active throughout the winter with activities. My daughter is actually at dance camp right now. Getting a head start on things.
Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated!
That definitely isn't a problem with my son. Getting him to stop when you want him to is. He's like the Energizer Bunny.
~Sandy G.
Thanks for this post! As a children's physical activity specialist for the past 27 years, I've found it terribly frustrating to watch children become more and more sedentary, as the benefits cited here are only SOME of the good stuff being active brings. You mentioned some of the physical and social/emotional aspects, but there are cognitive (intellectual) benefits as well. Children's brains develop and perform optimally when children are physically active! That's part of the reason we have to ensure that recess and physical education stay in the schools.
Nowadays, there are so many interesting programs on TV, and video games are also so addictive. That's why is not surprising children are exercising less. Unlike our time, when video games and the internet is practically non-existent.
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