Monday, August 04, 2008
Exercising and Children
Lately, the percentage of overweight children is on the rise. With the newest developments of video games, television programs and such, children are not getting as much exercise as they need. Their diets are consisting of more "junk" food because it is easier to grab while on the go. Yet, the question of how much exercise does your child need still remains. As well as, what does exercise consist of?
When you think of exercise, you probably picture yourself at the gym standing next to a beefy trainer who has you tuning in with muscles you haven't felt since high school. But unless you are bodybuilding your three year old, there is no need for a Hulk of a trainer to whip your baby in to shape. You can take the role of "trainer" yourself and make sure your child is getting the exercise they need. While focusing on endurance, strength, and flexibility, you can easily insure that your youngster is being provided with optimal exercise. At the playground, you see those three elements of fitness everywhere. Your children are playing Tag; you see an example of endurance. Crossing the monkey bars would utilize their strength, and simply bending down to tie their shoes is flexibility.
Daily exercise is crucial. But how much should they get a day? Well, for infants, you just need to focus on their motor development. Toddlers, however, need at least an hour and a half. This does not mean that you need to construct an exercise program, though you could. Preschoolers need about two hours and school children need at least an hour plus. Have new activities for them every day; such as riding a bicycle, playing basketball, soccer, etc. Or just run them around the jungle gym at a playground or take them swimming.
Lets make more than an effort. Make it part of your families daily lives to exercise and eat well balanced diets. Your children will be healthier for it; now what is the harm in that?