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Exercising: The Benefits Extended to Children
It is a well-known fact that getting regular exercise is beneficial for all age groups, no matter what their stage in life is. However, for young people, there are even more advantages to staying physically active. Many studies have demonstrated that encouraging children to exercise regularly brings long-term physical and psychological benefits that will stay with them throughout life.
More than Just Physical Health
It is certainly true that getting regular exercise as a child helps to improve overall physical health and can even help prevent adult diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. Another thing that scientific studies have shown is that exercise has a positive effect on mental health, cognitive performance and concentration levels. Therefore, children who get into the habit of exercising on a regular basis tend to do better in school, have higher self-esteem and tend to have better self-control. All of these things help to set them up for success in later life.
Other Benefits from Exercise
Regular exercise can bring multiple additional benefits for children. Some of these include:
- Social benefits: Exercising in groups or taking team sports like soccer, volleyball, or basketball can help children to develop their social skills and make new friends.
- Creating good habits: Developing good habits in young life like physical fitness will help to create the foundations for a healthy adulthood.
- Learning discipline: Joining any athletic team and training for a particular game or activity teaches children discipline and helps them to become more reliable and organised.
- Releasing energy: Exercise can be a great way for children to have fun while also burning off any extra energy they have.
Tips for Getting Children to Exercise
There are many different ways that parents and caregivers can help their children to get regular exercise. Here are some tips:
- Set a good example – if children see their parents or carers participating in physical activities, then they’re more likely to follow suit.
- Make it fun – turn exercising into a game! An example would be inviting friends over for an outdoor playdate or teaching children how to do a dance routine.
- Be creative – don’t just stick to the traditional exercises. Introduce your children to a variety of different sports and physical activities and let them pick which ones they enjoy the most.
- Reward achievements – give your children something constructive to work towards, whether it is a sport-related reward or something more family-oriented.
- Before starting any exercise program, check with a doctor and make sure that the activity is age-appropriate and that the child is in good health.
In conclusion, encouraging children to exercise regularly brings a wealth of benefits that will stay with them throughout their life. Both physical and mental health will be enhanced, as will their attention spans and social skills. A great way to get children into exercise is to make it fun — turning it into a game or a hobby — to be enjoyed with others.
