ANSWERS: 1
  • Kids need physical activity. It's that simple. Exercise helps children build healthy bones and muscles. It helps them burn off the calories contained in unhealthy junk food. Exercise decreases kids' risk of developing serious disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes, and it makes use of their imagination and energy. Use the guidelines below to ensure your child is getting the exercise needed on a daily basis.

    How Much Exercise?

    According to KidsHealth.org, the amount and type of exercise your child needs depends on his age. Plan activities for your infant that focuses on motor development. If you have a toddler, choose activities that include physical activity and free play time. Ideally, toddlers should get a minimum of 1 ½ hours of exercise a day, with 30 minutes of this activity planned. Preschoolers need a minimum of 2 hours of physical activity a day. An hour of this time should be planned exercise. Spend it taking a family bike ride or playing a game of catch in the back yard. Allow your preschooler to spend the remaining hour in free play. School age children need an hour or more of physical exercise. You can allow your child to run and play for an hour or you can break the exercise up into small blocks. Kidshealth.org recommends children in all age groups exercise every day of the week. Avoid long periods of inactivity. Encourage your child to exercise by way of physical play every two hours.

    What Type of Exercise?

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend children spend the majority of their exercise time doing aerobic activities. Walking to school is considered moderate aerobic activity, while running on the playground is vigorous-intensity activity. Allow your children to participate in activities they love. Children get beneficial exercise in many ways. Running improves their endurance. Bending and stretching exercises, such as playing a game of "Twister," increases flexibility. The monkey bars on the playground help increase their strength. Encourage your children to find activities that include all three areas of fitness development.

    Make Exercise Fun

    Take the struggle out of exercise by making it fun. According to Kidshealth.org, children watch an average of three hours of television a day. When video games, computer play and DVDs are included, the average child spends 5 ½ hours per day on these sedentary activities. Be creative to win your child away from these passive activities. Support your child in sporting activities when they show an interest. Soccer, football, baseball, tennis, basketball, swimming or field and track are activities that require high energy. If your child does not show an interest in organized sports, you still have plenty of options. Try running, jogging, skating, weight lifting or family activities in your backyard. As a last resort, try video games that require your child to use physical exercise in order to play the game.

    Source:

    Kidshealth.org: Kids and exercise

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: How much physical activity do children need?

    Resource:

    The New York Times: How Much Exercise Do Children Need?

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