Physical activity is an essential part of childhood and is used to greatly enhance the development of children whether physically, mentally or even emotionally. Nowadays technology makes children sit in front of screens most of the time, and that is why it is crucial to encourage children's activity. 

Let’s take a look at the positive effects of physical activity for kids.

Physical Health Benefits

It is obvious that the first advantage of physical activity is the improvement of the physical status of a human. Influence of exercise on children includes exercise assists in the development of strong bones and muscles, cardiovascular health, and weight control. These are essential to discourage obesity among children; obesity conditions the children to health complications of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart diseases besides being dangerous. Sport also improves motor skills, coordination as well as balance that are all parts of motor development. Sprinting, jumping over, swimming or playing different types of sport not only enhances muscles but also enhances flexibility and agility, which is the groundwork to exercise based on physical fitness for a healthy lifestyle.

Mental and Emotional Well-Being

Sports or any form of exercise does not only shape our bodies; it also shapes our thoughts. These encouraging effects have positive outcomes such as; exercising leads to increased mood, decrease anxiety and depression, and increase in self-esteem. In children mostly, the best and natural method to deal with stress is through exercising physically. This is because exercise triggers the pumping of feel-good hormones called endorphins into circulation hence helping in creating a good mood. Besides, physical activity helps improve cognition which in turn results in better concentration, memory and performance on your studies.

Social Skills and Interaction

Playing in groups and team sports are also useful for children as they help them to acquire proper social skills. Soccer and any football, a dance class, hiking, or any sort of group activity children have to combine and become friends so that they can play together. These interactions assist children in acquiring several social skills in the course of their lives like team work, leadership, cooperation as well as conflict solving. Engaging in sports also helps the kids in learning on how to lose and win and the right attitude of performing and supporting the members of the same team. They play a major role in building life experiences that enhance interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence as well as coping mechanisms.

Building Lifelong Healthy Habits

Positive attitude towards the physical activities during childhood is likely to improve the standards of health for the rest of their lives. Such children grow up with right attitudes towards wielding bodies they are left with and are able to exercise thus chip away at chronic diseases in their adulthood. Incorporating physical activity in every family’s daily schedule is a constructive way through which parents can model appropriate behaviour to their children and maintain a healthy lifestyle in their households.

Encouraging Physical Activity: Tips for Parents

Self generated and fun ways to get people active do not always have to be a drawn out process. Here are some tips for parents to encourage their children to be more active.

• Make it Fun: Select activities your child likes; this could be dancing, cycling, swimming games like tag and many others. The most important point is to make it very fun to exercise so that the motivation of exercising is higher than the motivation of a chore.

• Limit Screen Time: Limit the time your child spends in front of TV and computers, mobile devices and other electronic gadgets. Avoid screen time activities and replace them with outdoor and exercise related activities as often as possible.

• Be Active Together: The activities can include going for a walk with the family, cycling, playing a game of basketball at the driveway, among others. A child is likely to be active if he/she sees his/her parents being active in physical exercises or activities.

• Encourage Participation in Sports: Take your child to sports groups or classes of his or her choice. Sport-activities also teach people how to be in this strange organised structure while remaining sociable and fit.

• Create a Safe Environment: Make sure that your child has a proper playing ground where they can gain physical exercise whether it is at home backyard, local park or a recreation centre. Exercise will be habitual if safe places are available for that purpose.

Every child should engage in physical activities because they have an impact on the kids’ growth and development of their physical, mental, and social aspects. So, parents always have to insist on exercise and incorporate it into the lifestyle of their children in as fun a manner as possible so as to give the young generation the foundation of a healthy life. As more and more children spend their days sitting in front of screens, now it is more important than ever to help children develop healthy attitudes toward activity.