We all know about the importance of exercise. And we all feel that going to the gym and running on the treadmill is the most important exercise for adults. But do you know that exercise is also essential for kids? Well yes, kids’ bodies also need exercise. But, their form of exercise may be a little different from that of ours. For kids, the best form of exercise is being physically active and not living a sedentary lifestyle. This form of exercise may be while riding a bike, playing in the playground, or jumping around. Let us have a look at the various benefits of exercise for the kids and the various forms of exercise that the kids can do.
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Benefits of exercise for kids
Kids and teens are sitting around a lot. As technology has advanced, so has advanced the chances of living a sedentary lifestyle which is a real risk for everyone. It is a risk not only for adults but also for kids. They spend a lot of time in front of the screen like watching TV, mobile, and laptops. Too much screen time and no physical activity adds to a lot of problems like childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. So, let us first have a look at the benefits of exercise for kids.
- The kids develop stronger muscles and bones
- They do not face the problem of obesity
- Positive attitude and a better outlook on life
- It develops leadership skills in kids
- It also reduces the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- The kid’s flexibility and strength are also raised to a new height.
How much exercise is enough for the kids?
How much and how long should your kid exercise depends on the age, the physical strength, and the overall health of the kid. But, ideally, there are different time intervals for kids of different age groups. Kids and teens of different age groups should get at least 60 minutes of exercise. Toddlers should get 60 minutes of active play and exercise. Pre-schoolers should get at least 120 minutes of planned active play supervised by the adults and unstructured active free play. Young children should not be inactive for more than one hour unless and until the child is sleeping. School going children should not be inactive for more than 2 hours.
What type of exercise should the children be doing?
Exercising in children is different as compared to that of adults. Children can complete their daily amount of exercise by running around during lunchtime, games, and taking part in extracurricular activities. Activities that the children are involved in should include activities that they are interested in. If the kid gets bored then they will lose interest in the activity. The games that children can play include the following
- Running
- Jogging
- Cycling
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Walking
- Skating
Getting good exercise and strengthen the muscles does not only mean lifting weights. But, a kid can also do push-ups, crunches, pull-ups, and other exercises that can build muscle strength. Stretching exercises also help a lot. Kids can also do a cartwheel or headstands. The kids can also play football in two teams.
Raising healthy kids
In order to raise healthy kids we should combine proper physical activity with proper nourishing diet. Here is what you can do to raise a fit and healthy kid.
- Set a regular schedule for you and your kids physical activity
- Help your kid do a lot of age appropriate activity
- You and your family should both be active
- Keep the physical activity fun for kids so that they love to do it.
So, this is all that I would like to share with you regarding exercise for kids and keeping the kids fit and fine. If you know of some other activity then do let us know in the comments section.
They spend a lot of time in front of the screen like watching TV, mobile, and laptops.