Exercise is important no matter who you are. However, it is even more crucial for children. Youngsters who exercise regularly are more likely to get into the habit on their own as teenagers and adults. Of course, most children will not volunteer their own time to go out and exercise on their own. As parents, you must encourage your children by designating a time of the day where you can take them out for some outdoor exercise.
A study presented in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine showed that roughly half of children ages 3 to 5 do not get the daily exercise they need. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children should get daily exercise by playing outside for at least 60 minutes. Research also shows that children who maintain daily physical activity are at a lower risk of developing childhood obesity. Exercise, in addition, also improves motor development and eyesight. Playing outside is also an opportunity for children to interact with their peers, which can help with their social skills when they begin school.
The study was done with 9,000 pre-schoolers. The parents were surveyed over how often they took their children outside. The results concluded that households with at least one parent who stayed or worked at home were more likely to take their children outside. Parents who exercised regularly themselves were also more likely to encourage physical activity with their kids.
As a parent, you probably do not wish for your child to develop into a couch potato. Children learn by example and will unlikely exercise on their own without you nudging them to do so. If you want your child to have a knack for fitness, then encourage them early. What you instill in their mind at a young age will stay with them for life.
Everyone knows that exercise can make your inner and outer body healthier, but can it also make you smarter? Well,