Photo by Kampus Production
In our modern times, physical activity for kids has dove down significantly. According to Forbes, many children nowadays do 20% less physical activity during the pandemic. The numbers can be alarming, with exercise and physically demanding movements crucial during a child’s growth. With this in mind, the author Kristina Orliczky wrote a physical activities storybook on Mona’s Mitten, her children’s book designed to encourage kids to “move.”
There is a reason why P.E. (Physical Education) classes are mandatory in most schools. With physical activity affecting a kid’s emotional, physical, and mental growth, there’s no contest on how valuable physical activity is for youngsters. But how exactly does playing tag, hanging on the monkey bar, and doing sports benefit a young girl or boy?
Good question. Just sit back and read because we’ll look at those factors today.
Physical Development
Running around and having fun is a child’s version of getting exercise. By generating stress on the muscles and bones while chasing down a playmate to catch them during a game of tag, these organs become more robust and durable in response to the stimulus. Having well-developed bones and muscles will reduce the chances of getting bone-related and muscle-related diseases.
Being Fit and Healthy
One of the main methods to increase or develop physical strength is engaging in physically demanding activities. To a growing child, being physically strong carries numerous advantages, like lifting heavy objects for daily tasks or simply walking longer distances and not getting tired quickly. Physical activity also helps promote stability and flexibility.
The Cultivation of Motor Skills
Motor skills are essential because they help us properly move our bodies. Giving a child the opportunity to cultivate helps them become skilled at mastering the basic motions they need for their daily life. Things like tying a shoelace, feeding oneself, writing, bathing, and more can only be trained via physical movements. Building a snowman, for example, can be an exciting and significant physical activity to do with your kids during winter.
It Provides Children with Better Posture
Although slouching isn’t a big deal, if you want your kids to have better posture, then understanding some exercises can help. You can teach your children some light exercises that focus heavily on proper postures, such as push-ups and add a fun element. Better posture can also help stave off Kyphosis, the excessive, forward-rounding shape of a person’s upper back.
Helps Manage a Child’s Weight
Burning calories is always done best with excellent physical activity, which is vital for a child not to become overweight. Should a youngster become obese in their childhood, the risk of staying obese to their adulthood is very high. Parents can help avoid this from happening by encouraging their kids to partake in some form of exercise. The physical activities storybook on Mona’s Mitten can serve as a fun starting activity the family could add to their bonding time.
Keeping the Heart Healthy and Functional
While chubby kids can indeed look adorable, those extra fats in their bodies come with a high price to pay. Children who develop obesity at a young age are at risk of developing heart disease and complications caused by high cholesterol levels, as well as metabolic conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes as they grow up. The worst-case scenario would be that they develop such alarming ailments at a younger age and might hugely hamper their life into adulthood.
Developing Brain Power
If you think that exercise is just about the brawns, you must think again. Scientific studies show that activities such as playing games like tag help boost a kid’s cognitive functions. What happens is that during such activities, nerve cells located in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus fire off, causing them to multiply and form brand-new networks and connections. The repetition of physical activities also helps improve memory and concentration.
The importance of exercise and moving around for a child can’t be underestimated. With the many reasons why it benefits children we’ve listed here, any parent will see why they should go out there and motivate their kids to do some bodily activities. The physical activities storybook on Mona’s Mitten, written by Kristina Orliczky, offers many fun options for parents and their young ones.
Alex Writes 