As childhood obesity and attention deficit disorders in young children continue to increase, more and more research is being done about the effects of physical activity on children’s health.
This research shows that regular exercise is not only vital to physical development, but also brain development in young children. Here are a few examples:
You can read more about this research here.
Since physical activity is so important for overall health and happiness, as well as success in school, encouraging physical activity at home is crucial.
A great way to encourage your children to lead an active lifestyle is to lead one yourself. Incorporate exercise into your family’s everyday routine. Start going for a walk every night before dinner or pick a family swim night at the local pool.
Activities like biking, tennis, and cross-country skiing are especially beneficial as they are sports your children can participate in later in life. Most importantly though, if you want a fitness routine to last, be sure to make it fun and vary the activities regularly.
Want more great ideas to incorporate physical activity into your daily life? Visit these links:
http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/grandparents/play-12-24-final.pdf