According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children and adolescents should participate in at least 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.
Physical activity and exercise play an important role in the development of a child. Activity should begin around age 3 with play time and less structured tasks and then progress to more moderate-to-vigorous activity when children turn 6 years-old. As children grow, parents should encourage 60 minutes of activity a day, and on at least 3 days, vigorous activity is recommended.
The Many Benefits of Exercise
Everyone can benefit from regular exercise. Active kids will have:
- stronger muscles and bones
- leaner bodies
- less risk of becoming overweight
- a lower chance of getting type 2 diabetes
- lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels
- a better outlook on life
The Sedentary Problem
Kids and teens are sitting around a lot more than they used to. They spend hours every day in front of a screen (TVs, smartphones, tablets, and other devices) looking at a variety of media (TV shows, videos, movies, games). Too much screen time and not enough physical activity add to the problem of childhood obesity.
Move the body. Move the mind.
Keep it fun! It’s important to encourage your child and find activities they enjoy. This way your child will not find the exercise a chore and they are more likely to stick at it.
The type of activity depends on the individual. So exercise can be team-led such as football or basketball, joining a club or having lessons such as tennis, dance or golf, or activities with family and friends such as a bike ride, going for a walk or jump roping!
Grab a Fight Rope and let’s get JUMPING!
