Regular exercise is important for everyone, and children are no exception. A great many children these days, however, need a great deal of encouragement to get physically active. Today's technology tends to draw children into more sedentary patterns. Many kids spend more time on television, video games and computers than playing outdoors, which can have long-term affects on their health and well-being. Parents who make daily physical activity a priority can instill good fitness habits in their children that will last a lifetime, improving their chances for a long and healthy life.
Significance
Regular physical activity helps in maintaining a healthy body weight. Approximately one in three children in America is overweight or obese. This trend has resulted in the proliferation of health problems that were once rare in children becoming common, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Exercise contributes to health in other ways as well, building strength, agility and endurance as well as increasing bone density and improving joint and muscle health.
Toddlers and Preschoolers
Toddlers and preschoolers need between 90 minutes to two hours of physical activity per day. For this age group, games that encourage aerobic activity like running and jumping are good exercise. Encourage them to play tag, leap frog or hide and seek. Hand-eye coordination and motor skills are being developed in this age group, so learning to throw, catch and climb are age-appropriate exercises as well.
Ages 5 to 12
Kids in this age group need a minimum of one hour of physical activity daily, but could benefit from up to two hours. Bike riding is great exercise for this age group, as is swimming. Children at the lower end of this age bracket can begin to learn team sports, such as kickball, baseball, soccer and basketball, while those on the upper end of the age bracket may be ready to play on an organized team.
Teens and Tweens
Kids in this age group need a minimum of one hour of physical activity daily, but they could benefit from up to two hours. Bike riding is great exercise for this age group, as is swimming. Children at the lower end of this age bracket can begin to learn team sports, such as kickball, baseball, soccer and basketball, while those on the upper end of the age bracket may be ready to play on an organized team.
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