How important is youth physical activity? It's a question that many of us have asked ourselves at some point. As adults, we know that exercise is important for our overall health and well-being, but what about the younger generations? You may be surprised to learn that physical activity among youth is incredibly important, not only for physical health, but for mental and emotional health as well. In this blog post, we'll explore why it's so important for kids to stay active and how we can help encourage them to do so.
The CDC recommends that children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children and adolescents between 6 to 17 years old should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This physical activity can be achieved through moderate-intensity aerobic activities such as walking or playing games, or through vigorous-intensity activities such as running, basketball, or soccer. It is important to note that the 60 minutes of physical activity should include activities from both muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activities.
Physical activity is important for children and adolescents for a variety of reasons. Regular physical activity helps to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, which can decrease the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, regular physical activity can help to improve bone health by increasing bone density and preventing osteoporosis later in life. Finally, regular physical activity can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and can even increase academic performance, self-esteem, and teamwork skills.
Unfortunately, only 1 in 3 children are physically active every day. To ensure that all children get the physical activity they need, parents and caregivers should encourage their children to engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. For example, families can take walks together or go on bike rides, play active games such as tag or hide-and-seek, or even participate in outdoor activities such as hiking or swimming. Doing these activities together can also help to create quality time between family members and foster positive relationships.
It is clear that getting enough physical activity is essential for the well-being of children and adolescents. Parents and caregivers should ensure that their children are getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day in order to improve their overall health and wellbeing.
Only 1 in 3 children are physically active every day
It's a sobering statistic: only 1 in 3 children are getting the recommended amount of physical activity each day. This means that two out of three children are not getting enough exercise to maintain their physical health and well-being.
Physical activity is incredibly important for children and adolescents. It helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints; strengthens cardiovascular health; and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Physical activity can also help improve academic performance, self-esteem, and teamwork skills.
Unfortunately, due to busy schedules and hectic lifestyles, many children are not getting the exercise they need. Schools are often unable to provide enough physical education classes or recess time, and many parents don’t have the time or resources to take their children to organized sports activities.
There are some simple steps that families can take to increase the amount of physical activity their children are getting. For starters, parents can set aside some time each day for their children to play outside or engage in physical activities like walking, biking, or playing tag. They can also encourage their children to join an organized sports team or enroll them in a local fitness class. Even 30 minutes of light to moderate physical activity each day can make a huge difference in their overall health.
It’s essential that parents and caregivers work together to ensure that their children get the recommended amount of physical activity each day. Doing so can help promote their physical health, reduce stress, and give them the tools they need to lead healthy and happy lives.
Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardiorespiratory fitness and bone health
Cardiorespiratory fitness is the ability of your heart, lungs and blood vessels to work together to provide the energy and oxygen needed during physical activity. Regular physical activity can help improve this important part of overall health. It can also help increase the strength and size of muscles and bones, which is especially important for adolescents.
Strong bones are important to maintain a healthy body, as weak bones can lead to osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones brittle and more likely to break. Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents build strong bones and prevent the onset of osteoporosis. It also helps promote balance, coordination, agility and flexibility, all of which are important for injury prevention.
Engaging in regular physical activity can also have mental health benefits. Studies have found that physical activity can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and increase academic performance, self-esteem and teamwork skills.
For these reasons, it’s important for children and adolescents to get the recommended amount of physical activity each day. To make sure that your children are meeting the recommended guidelines, encourage them to participate in activities like playing sports, walking or biking with friends, or going to the playground. Taking a family walk after dinner is also a great way to spend quality time together while still getting some exercise.
It can also reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and increase academic performance, self-esteem, and teamwork skills
When it comes to youth physical activity, there are many benefits beyond just physical health. For example, regular physical activity can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. Research suggests that physical activity helps to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine which can lead to improved moods.
In addition, regular physical activity can also improve academic performance. Studies have shown that increased physical activity in school-age children can result in improved attention and memory skills, higher test scores, better grades, and improved cognitive functioning.
Youth physical activity is also important for the development of self-esteem and teamwork skills. Physical activity can help promote positive body image and feelings of confidence, which can lead to better social interactions. In addition, engaging in team sports or other physical activities with peers can help foster healthy relationships and teach valuable communication and problem-solving skills.
Overall, it is clear that youth physical activity is incredibly important for physical and mental wellbeing. Therefore, it is essential that parents, educators, and health professionals work together to ensure that young people have the opportunities and support they need to engage in regular physical activity.
