Importance Of Physical Activity For Children

Children love to play and jump and jump around, isn’t it? But, the scenario looks quite different today. They are using digital screens in some or the other form all day long and this is definitely harmful to their overall physical and holistic development.

Be it sitting in front of the television, playing video games on the tablet or mobile phone, or being on the laptop for hours in the name of online classes and projects- children have one reason or another to stay glued to these screens. Along with the screen time increasing, the movement time is also decreasing which is not at all what the human body is equipped for.

The human body was designed to move at least 10-15 kilometers per day in order to conduct essential activities like searching for food, hunting, gathering wood logs, etc. Walking for long distances along with vigorous physical work was a requirement in order to survive in their daily lives. Now, as the nature of work changed and the world became faster and more tech equipped, the human body is still evolving at its own pace. The lifestyle in today’s world has transformed at a tremendous speed which the human body has failed to match. The movement has come down to barely a 1-2 kilometer in a day which also includes going to the bathroom. Hence, in order to bridge the gap between this sedentary lifestyle and the vital movement requirements of the human body, physical activity in any form naturally becomes an integral part of a healthy lifestyle.

But it’s not that we did not know that physical exercise is important, right? The more essential question according to me is how to integrate physical activity into your child’s daily routine. The challenge is to encourage children to sit less and to move more.

So here are a few hacks to help you incorporate movement in your child’s lifestyle.

• Engage in activities that you can also participate in. For example- Take them for an evening walk in the park. Encourage them to play with other kids there or simply run a few rounds in the form of a race. This is something you can do with your child even if no other kids are around.
• Explore the activities they enjoy. Be it in the form of a sport like badminton or basketball, or simply dancing, any activity which the child naturally enjoys will never feel like a burden. It will be something which they would look forward to.
• Instead of playing video games, introduce them to the traditional games which this internet generation is not aware of. Some good choices would be Hopscotch, Kabaddi, Pithhoo, Kho Kho, etc. Reliving memories? We know :)
• Reward your kid with outdoor playtime instead of granting permission for virtual games which further adds to their screen time.
• Persuade them to help you with household chores. It could be anything like cleaning their room or getting groceries from the nearby market. This will build their self-esteem as they are likely to feel that they are also an important part of the family. Along with that, it will also trick them to move more.

Regular physical activity can help kids cope with stress. It also promotes healthy growth and the overall development of your kids. It leads to better self-esteem and social skills. Activities like these ensure stronger bones, muscles and joints along with a better posture, balance and good quality sleep. A stronger heart and a healthier weight range are added benefits.

We hope this article has given you an insight into how you can make your child’s lifestyle healthier and will encourage our kids to move more and sit less.

Stay Tuned, Stay Relevant!