Exercise is defined in the dictionary as the bodily exertion for the sake of developing and maintaining physical fitness. The first few years of a child’s life are the most important in many ways. One of them is setting them on the right path in terms of physical activity. While younger children are normally running and playing most of the day, they need at least one hour of structured play time a day to help them develop certain skills. Increased physical activity has been associated with an increased life expectancy and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Physical activity produces overall physical, psychological and social benefits.
Inactive children are likely to become inactive adults. And physical activity helps with controlling weight, reducing blood pressure, reducing the risk of diabetes and some kinds of cancers among other things. (“Physical”, 2011 para. 1). Developmentally, physical activity is very important to young children. Children use manipulative skills to catch, throw, kick, roll, dribble, and strike or bat. Children need to develop basic competency in fundamental motor skills for games, sports, and lifetime physical activity. (Goodwayand and Robinson 2006)
Obesity is a rising health risk in children in today’s society. Fast food restaurants sit on just about every corner in many towns across America. For any person who is overweight the health risks are serious, but for a child it can be dangerous. A child is still growing and developing, so if they are overweight their chances of becoming at risk for diabetes and other diseases increase. Exercising for at least one hour a day can greatly lower a child’s risk for diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses that are brought on by weight. According to the American Heart Association, part of a healthy lifestyle is staying physically active. Doctors say that kids should be physically active for an hour day. (“Make” 2011, para 1) Helping your child become more active is not a hard task. Find activities that he or she enjoy and turn use it as their exercise. One can even find something that both you and your child enjoy and can do it together. When children and even adults find a physical activity that they enjoy they do not see it as exercise. Instead it is seen as having fun.
Children who are of preschool age must learn locomotor and manipulative skills in order to be competent physically. Running, skipping, leaping are examples of gross motor skills or locomotor skills; while manipulative skills involve moving objects with their hands and feet, like kicking, throwing, and catching things. There are many activities and sports that can be used for preschoolers and can be noncompetitive at the same time. Finding games that involve the use of their newly found motor and manipulative skills can be a challenge, especially if you are looking for one that all of the children will enjoy and can participate in. Jean Piaget wrote, “It is with children that we have the best chance of studying the development of logical knowledge, mathematical knowledge, physical knowledge, and so forth. Children are the future adults of this world, so we need to make sure they grow up with all the right knowledge about society, life, and everything in between.
References
Goodwayand, J. and Robinson, L... (May 2006). SKIPing toward an Active Start Promoting Physical Activity in Preschoolers. In National Association for Education of Young Children. Retrieved January 6, 2012, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200605/GoodwayBTJ.pdf.
Make The Most of Play (2011, March)
Retrieved Januray 6, 2012, from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealthierKids/ActivitiesforKids/Make-the-Most-of-Play_UCM_312476_Article.jsp
Physical Activity and Children (2011, March)
Retrieved January 06, 2012, from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/Physical-Activity-and-Children_UCM_304053_Article.jsp
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