Physical Activity and Children

To find out more about being Active please log onto – Healthy Living Website

Benefits of Physical activity

Physical Activity is vital for good health and it’s benefits range from disease prevention to well being, psychological benefits, fitness and overall quality of life. In childhood, exercise can heavily contribute to a child happiness and health – generally every parent’s objective for their child.

Frequent physical activity can help by:

• Improving health

Physical activity can help build a healthy heart, develop strong muscles and bones and may help reduce the risk of some chronic diseases in later life.

• Reducing body fat

The number of young people who are obese is increasing in Scotland. This can have a significant effect on health, including the development of diabetes.

• Reducing anxiety and stress
• Improving self-esteem, confidence, social and moral development
• Increasing the opportunities for children to mix with other children and make friends
• Some researchers believe that it contributes to better cognitive development and concentration, which may have a positive effect on schoolwork (BHF – Get kids on the go, 2004)
• Allowing children to feel fulfilled and burn off energy.

How much physical activity should children be doing?

In order to gain health benefits, every child should…
‘Accumulate at least 60minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week’
(Lets Make Scotland More Active, 2003)

Moderate intensity is any activity that makes you feel slightly out of breath, warmer and makes your heart beat faster. This type of intensity should not be uncomfortable and make you feel as if you want to stop – that would be too intense. You should feel as though your body is working harder but could continue the activity for some time.

Activity can be accumulated throughout the day, making the targets more realistic to meet.

Examples of moderate intensity activities are:

• Brisk walking
• Active play, in the playground or at home
• Swimming
• Most sports
• Cycling
• Dance

(BHF – Get kids on the go, 2004)

What can parents do to help?

Parents are key in initiating and encouraging activity in children. There are a number of different ways that parents can install active behaviour in their children. The following list highlights these:

• Encourage your child to take part in PE lessons
• Give your child opportunities to be active as part of their daily routine (e.g. walk to school, play outside), through their leisure time (e.g. roller-blading, going swimming) and through taking them to after school clubs, local sports clubs and community centres.
• Play with your child and allow them to practice skills
• Positive encouragement
• Participate in activities together (e.g. kick about, tennis, dancing)
• Be a role model – make physical activity an important part of you and your families lifestyle

(Adapted from BHF, Get kids on the go, 2004)