Why Children Should Exercise

Exercise is one of the most important activities that everyone should participate in on a regular (daily) basis. Exercise not only improves mental function by releasing serotonin and other natural chemicals into the brain, but is also has long-term physical and psychological effects that can improve overall health and quality of life. While most adults accept exercise as a requirement of a healthy lifestyle, exercise amongst children can easily get overlooked. After all, children are naturally active, right?

Not necessarily. According to the American Heart Association, children should exercise at least 60 minutes a day at a moderate-to-vigorous level. (source: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4596) This means that children should be spending at least one hour a day running around in the back yard, playing sports, or doing activity that leaves them somewhat breathless. Playing Wii Tennis and other video games does not usually qualify.

Why exercise is important for children

Exercise is important for children for the same reasons as adults. However, when children are encouraged to get physical activity, they are learning at an early and impressionable age that exercise and physical activity is important. In the same way that children should learn that eating ice cream for breakfast is not healthy, they need to understand that exercising is healthy and a requirement of a healthy lifestyle.

Exercising can help to reduce body weight, control blood pressure, decrease the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, improve self confidence, and so much more. For children that already have Type 2 Diabetes, exercise can help them manage their blood sugar levels in much the same way as insulin might work - and exercise can help to prevent some of the common complications associated with Diabetes, according to the American Heart Association.

How to motivate children to exercise

If children are not accustomed to exercising, it can be challenging to motivate them to participate in physical activity. Making physical activity fun is essential. Sometimes, it is helpful if parents can help their children to establish goals and habits. For example, if a child is overweight and needs to lose weight, the parent can help the child to monitor his or her body fat and body fat loss using a body fat scale. In such a case, the child can determine what his or her body fat is at the beginning of an exercise program and make a goal to decrease that number by one or two points over a period of 4 weeks of exercise.

Parents can also enroll their children in sports camps or sign them up for sports activities, such as dance, soccer, or swimming. When children join a team or take a class, they will not only be staying active, but they will learn something new and make friends in the process!

Remember: the habits that children develop will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Therefore, helping your children develop healthy habits of exercise can help to prevent them from getting Diabetes and many other serious health-related issues years down the road.

Resources:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4596

http://shop.imtypefree.com/Body-Fat-Analyzer-p/marhbf306c.htm