Blog 6 - Why exercise is so important for young children
Regular exercise is important for everyone, but it’s especially important for young children. Physical activity is essential for a child’s development and helps lay the foundation for a healthy and active life right through to adulthood. As parents, carers and educators, it is our responsibility to provide our kids with possibilities and experiences that positively influence their choices when it comes to exercise.
Some benefits of regular exercise include:
- Improved posture
- Development of gross motor and fine motor skills
- Improved balance, flexibility, coordination and strength
- Maintenance of a healthy weight
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Increased self-esteem, confidence and mental wellbeing
- Improved concentration and thinking
- Opportunity to develop social skills and make friends
- Promoting healthy growth and development
- Better sleep habits
It’s true that kids are allocating more time in front of screens than in the past because they’ve grown up surrounded by technology. This only becomes a problem if they’re spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time participating in physical activity. Limiting the amount of time your child spends in front of the tablet or TV is an excellent way to start. As parent, carer or educators, you act as their main role model to ensure you’re doing your best to live a healthy lifestyle so they will follow in your footsteps.
It’s recommended that children participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. This can include anything from walking and riding a bike, to playing with friends and doing organised sports.
If you’re looking to encourage your youngster to exercise every day, consider enrolling them into a Kelly Sports programme! Our programmes aim to create a life long love of sports – the perfect way to foster a love of exercise and meet new friends! From dance and gymnastics to our multi-sport programmes, there’s definitely at least one sporting activity that your child will love.
Find out more here!
