Being physically fit has many benefits. This is not true of adults alone but also true for children. I remember as a child I would love to play in the outdoors. Every day my friends and I would spend at least an hour playing all kinds of games from football to cricket to various other physically taxing games. But, today its sad that we hardly see kids playing in the outdoors.
Children of today’s generation are born with technology gadgets around them and by the time they are 5-6 years of age they are so hooked to these gadgets such as Ipads or laptop or mobile phone etc. Most are gaming addicts and are interested in indoor and cyber games than playing in the outdoors.
But, sitting at home in front of the computer or playing on the Ipad or mobile phone is not good for children. These have a bad effect on the child’s physical strength, growth and fitness. Children should play in the outdoors and exert themselves in physical activities for at least an hour (60 minutes) daily. This is the minimum that a parent should see to it that the child follows. And, you’ll soon discover all the easy and enjoyable ways to help your child meet this regime. Encourage your child to participate in activities that are age-appropriate, enjoyable and offer variety!
Three types of physical activities are very important that every child must follow
1. Aerobic Activity
Aerobic activity should make up for most of your child’s 60 or more minutes of physical activity each day. This can include either moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, or vigorous-intensity activity, such as running. Be sure to include vigorous-intensity aerobic activity at least 3 days per week.
2. Muscle Strengthening
Include muscle strengthening activities, such as gymnastics or push-ups, at least 3 days a week as part of your child’s 60 or more minutes.
3. Bone Strengthening
Bone-strengthening activities include jumping rope or running, at least 3 days a week as part of your child’s 60 or more minutes activities in the outdoors.
Tips to help kids get active
** Encourage walking to school and getting active as a family
** Get them to cycle or run instead of getting a ride
** Ask them to walk the dog with you
** Have them carry the groceries from the market
** Encourage them to dance to their favourite music
** Replace computer and TV time with something active
** Build active opportunities into daily classroom routines and encourage students to join a school sport team
** Take kids to the playground or to the park to play
** Reduce screen time
This will help them to achieve the physical fitness and stay fit which will help them throughout their life.
We hope these tips on promoting physical activity and health among children prove valuable for both you and your child. If you found this information helpful, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. To explore more insights on children’s health, check out Healthy Reads or for further information or guidance, reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.
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Rightly said “gadgets are ruining the proper essence of childhood”. Childhood is all about playing at outdoors, spending more time with family, friends, and pets at parks and recreational places. Thanks for the blog!
Good recommendation of physical activities and tips that enhances kids activeness. You can step into my blog for other tips on physical activities.
Hi MOHAMMED,
Thank you so much for such a nice article about children health. I’ve got huge information on this well-researched post. Children activities are one of the best things to refresh children’s mind. In a world, if we want to make your children more active, you must arrang some joyful activities for there refreshment. On this matter, your article can be a great resource for children’s health activities. Thanks again for your great effort on this post.
Many common school-age activities — such as playing on playground equipment and jumping rope — cover all the bases at once. Organized sports such as baseball or soccer are a great way to stay fit too. But team sports or dance classes aren’t the only options.
Get creative as you search for activities your child enjoys. If your child is artistically inclined, consider a nature hike to collect leaves and rocks for use in a collage. If your child likes to climb, head for the nearest jungle gym or climbing wall. If your child loves reading, walk or bike to a local library for a book. Or simply turn on your child’s favorite music and dance in the living room.