Today more than ever, it is so important to get our children off the android and apple devices and get them physically moving.  Childhood obesity is at an all time high putting our children and adolescents at risk for poor health.  In the United States, more children are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, all illnesses that were once reserved mostly for adults.  The Center for Disease Control has reported that 17 percent of American children between the ages of 2 and 19 are overweight or obese. Not only does obesity cause physical health problems, it also causes our children  to suffer mentally and academically.  

One thing we can do to help our children’s overall health is get them to exercise.  It is recommended that infant, toddler, and preschool children participate in 30 to 60 minutes of daily physical activity and not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time, unless of course when taking a nap.  The activity should be an aerobic type of exercise, such as fast walking, running, jumping rope, or playing on the jungle gym.  Of course, getting our children involved in activities, such as playing basketball, baseball, or tennis is an excellent way of keeping them active.

Exercise helps our children academically, Studies have shown that kids who exercise do better in school. A comparison study was done with a group of active teens who participated in sports to a group of sedentary teens.  The kids who exercised were 20 percent more likely to receive an A in English and math!  Exercise has a physiological effect on the body.  According to Dr. John Rately, exercise “it releases proteins into the bloodstream that increases the production of brain chemicals.

Exercise also helps our children’s social development.  According to Dr. Rick Neuert, physical activity can help children develop leadership skills. Research was done on a group of middle school kids that revealed children who scored higher on leadership skills were more physically active.  He also believes that being involved on an athletic team builds self esteem and helps to keep children away from drugs and alcohol abuse.

There are numerous benefits to physical activity for us and our children.  So choose an activity, such as a family trip to the park. Most parks have walking and biking trails.  With the concerns of the pandemic, being outside with other family members seem to be relatively safe.  You can social distance yourselves from others and enjoy a family outdoor activity.