Why is Physical Activity so Important for Children?

The practice of moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day helps with healthy physical and psychological development in children.

Run, jump, climb, move! Physical activity allows children to feel good, relax, and express their emotions.

Specialists suggest that children exercise for at least 60 minutes a day. However, only 37.6% of children and young people between 5 and 17 meet this recommendation in Canada.

It is crucial for parents to encourage sports with their children because it stimulates physical development, helps prevent diseases, improves interpersonal relationships, concentration, and school performance.

Physical activity and changing habits

Physical activity is of the utmost importance for children and adolescents. That is why specialists warn about the time dedicated to practicing sports in recent years among children.

If you have a healthy and active lifestyle from childhood, it will likely continue into adult life. If exercise is a priority for the family, it will provide children and parents with a solid foundation to enjoy a healthy life.

But, how do you promote physical activity among children? First, remember that exercising is not only about playing sports, so including everyday activities such as walking the dog, shoveling snow, or cleaning the house, is a priority to keep them active.

Including these regular physical activities in children's day-to-day life will eventually become habits that help them understand that physical activity is essential for physical and mental development.

Lastly, don't forget to praise your kids for being active. The confidence you instill in them is the key to success.

Benefits of physical activity in children

The benefits and positive effects of physical activity in children, and also in adolescents, are the following:

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical activity helps children and young people to develop a healthy locomotor system (bones, muscles, joints) and a cardiovascular system (heart and lungs).

• Physical activity helps children control the neuromuscular system, responsible for coordination and control of movements.
• Exercise contributes to creating healthy lifestyle habits. It is also ideal for maintaining stable body weight, strengthens self-esteem and self-respect.
• Sports develop a social conscience in children, as it prepares them to face victories and defeats. It also teaches them the importance of teamwork and the spirit of companionship.
• Sport helps children and adolescents to increase self-esteem, improve school performance, and the ability to concentrate.
• Regular exercise in children prevents the risk of developing childhood obesity, cardiovascular diseases, psychological disorders, and bone demineralization.
• Daily Physical activity in children and youth helps minimize depressive symptoms, improves stress response, and decreases feelings of anxiety.
• Children and youth who are physically active have larger brain volumes in the areas involved with memory and executive functions.

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