Physical fitness is important for kids. There are many reasons why kids need regular exercise every day. When the activity of choice is for a child to run around the backyard or watch a television program, the best bet for the average child is the physical exercise. Children that participate in daily physical fitness activities will be able to maintain the right weight, will be ready to learn in school, will have better self- esteem and self- image, build healthy bones, muscles and joints, and will sleep better at night.
Each child should get at least an hour of exercise each day. This includes Physical Education class and recess. If they do not get recess or Physical Education (mainly the preschool children), then they need to get their fitness from home. This can include walking around the neighborhood with a trusted adult, playing outside, playing in the park, riding their bicycle, swimming, playing sports, or jumping rope. The exercises that the children do should be appropriate for their age. A four year old should not try to go swimming without a life jacket or supervision. They should stay in the children’s pool and not go to the four or five foot side just because they can swim. There will be time for each child to grow into deeper levels. If the children participate in sports, they must have the proper padding and protective wear (Mojica, 2009).
Getting involved with your children does not have to cost money and it does not have to be time consuming. It will only replace the time that children spend on watching television. They are not getting any exercise by sitting in front of the television. It is a good way for family bonding. If the child has brothers and sisters, get them involved as well. Make it an everyday thing. I guarantee it will bring the family closer.
When my son was younger, we would go to the park almost every day. We would get a group together and play tag on the play boosters. This was a wonderful way to get all the exercise that was needed for all. One person would stay under the play booster and have to tag everyone else on the play boosters. Some of the boosters got really high so we would have to crawl, jump, climb, hop, and run. These activities are fundamental; motor skills that are needed in a child’s physical fitness routine. These also are loco motor skills which involves moving the body from one point to another.
Another activity we were involved in a lot was playing kickball. When we kicked or caught the ball, we were working on our manipulative skills. When we ran we were working our Locomotor skills. Today, my son loves to play basketball and spending time with him when he was very young has helped him develop these skills. These skills are not learned automatically they are taught to them. Parents being involved in their child’s life will help them to master these skills (Goodway, Robinson, 2006).
Children must have some sort of physical fitness every day. If they start now, they will have a healthy lifestyle later in life. If a child wants to play a particular sport, such as soccer or basketball, they must understand the basic foundations of movement. If they do not have the skills then it is difficult for them to excel in the sport and they may be injured. Sports are a culmination of many specific and highly specialized movement patterns. They are not dangerous; the body just needs to be ready to play before they try (Chessen 2008).
References
Cleeson E. (2008). Moving On, Moving Up. Why Physical Fitness is essential for
Children with special needs. Parent Guide News. Retrieved on January 10, 2010
From http://www.parentguidenews.com/Catalog/SpecialNeeds/MovingOnMovingUp/
Goodway, J. D., & Robinson, L. E. (2006, March). SKIPing toward an active start:
Promoting physical activity in preschoolers. Beyond the Journal: Young Children on
the Web. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200605/GoodwayBTJ.pdf
Mojica S. ( 2009). Why is Physical Fitness So Important for Kids? Bright Hub. Retrieved
On January 10, 2010 from http://www.brighthub.com/health/fitness/articles/33382.aspx
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I agree that physical fitness is important for all kids. What they learn early on will carry them through adolescence and into adulthood. My son and I, too, have enjoyed playing outside together. When he was younger it was at the park. As he grew older it was throwing the football around or playing catch with the baseball. He is now 15 and did almost 10 years of baseball, at least six years of football, and has tried wrestling and tennis. At the present time, he lives and breathes basketball. A friend of mine bought him a basketball hoop for Christmas which he uses 2-3 times a day plus he enjoys going to the "Y" for pick-up games, etc. I'm all for encouraging any type of activity he wants to engage in!
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