As children grow up, they can become increasingly inactive and sedentary, so they need to be encouraged to exercise and stay active throughout their lives. Regular exercise can improve their mental health, physical health and overall well-being, as well as giving them the strength and stamina to participate in various activities throughout their childhood and beyond. Here are some of the benefits of exercise for children and why it’s so important they get involved with sports early on in life.
Mental Health Benefits Of Sports And Exercise For Kids
Exercise can help children with mental health problems, such as ADHD and anxiety. Kids who participate in sports are also more likely to do well in school. Studies show that exercise for children can actually reduce stress and improve self-esteem! Sports and exercise give kids a chance to experience success, which is often more difficult for those who struggle with mental illness. Exercise helps improve cognition. In kids, exercise can have an even greater impact on their growth and development than it does in adults.
Physical Health Benefits Of Sports And Exercise For Kids
There are many physical health benefits that sports and exercise can bring to children, including stronger muscles, bones and joints. It’s also important to incorporate regular activity into your kid’s schedule because it helps improve their breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Exercise is also necessary to strengthen a child’s back muscles so they can have better posture, stand taller and hold their head up high. Finally, exercise combats childhood obesity, which causes heart disease in adults later in life.
Long Term Development Benefits Of Sports And Exercise For Kids
As a parent, it is critical to know that participating in sports and exercise can have a lasting impact on children’s health as they grow up. Here are three of our top reasons why regular participation in sports and exercise activities is important.
1) It can help decrease bullying – Children who participate in physical activity are less likely to be bullied by their peers. In fact, kids who take part in team sports are 50% less likely to be bullied than non-athletes. They also have better social skills, which leads to a more positive self-image and greater confidence in social situations.
2) It can lead to better grades – Studies show that kids who exercise on a regular basis tend to have higher academic achievement than those who don’t. One study found that students who participated in extracurricular activities were twice as likely to get good grades as those who didn’t participate at all.
3) It can help you live longer – Participating in sports and exercise has been shown to help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and improve overall heart health. In fact, one study showed that people who exercised regularly had a 50% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to non-exercisers.
Is There A Downside To Sports?
One downside to competitive sports is that children can become hyper-competitive, which may put a damper on friendships and relationships. Try to encourage your kids to focus more on having fun than being better than everyone else. Help them understand that winning isn’t everything in sports, but it’s important nonetheless. It can help build self-confidence and teach them how to win and lose graciously.
Children will reap many benefits from being active, both mentally and physically. Taking time to spend with your kids can improve their concentration and productivity at school, as well as making them feel happier and more confident overall. And don’t forget: all that activity can be a lot of fun too! If you’re worried about how to get your kids motivated—or just interested—in exercise, check out these great resources to learn more. Once you’ve done that, start planning some family activities!
Please contact us if you are worried that your child is losing interest in physical activity. We offer comprehensive assessments and provide appropriate recommendations to get children engaged in an appropriate physical activity.