For kids, exercise often takes a different form than it does for adults.
Kids don’t go to the gym. They play. They go to football practice, gymnastics or dance class. They have recess at school and P.E.
Exercise is not the big word with a capital E for many young people.
Lucky for them, it’s still fun.
But screen time has increased and so have children’s waistlines, so not all young people are getting the amount of exercise they need.
And it’s important.
Kids who exercise:
- Have stronger muscles and bones
- Are less likely to be overweight or obese
- Have a smaller risk of developing Type 2 diabetes
- Have a more positive outlook on life (Source: kidshealth.org)
Endurance, strength and flexibility are the three areas to focus on with exercise.
Aerobic exercise can build endurance. Encourage kids to walk, run, play basketball, jump rope, ride their bike, ice skate or swim.
To build strength, have kids do push-ups, sit-ups, handstands or pull-ups or climb a tree or wrestle.
Flexibility is increased through stretching.
Decrease screen time to increase active time. Kids and teens need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
For more information, visit kidshealth.org.