Tips for Making Exercise Fun for Kids
Published on in Health Tip of the Week
Published on in Health Tip of the Week
As adults, we know that exercise is important to our health. Lack of exercise can lead to obesity, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease and stroke. Because children are naturally more active than adults, it’s easy to overlook the fact that physical activity is just as important for their health, and something we need to promote.
Matthew Elias, MD, an attending cardiologist in the Cardiac Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), talks about the link between exercise and children’s heart health, and what we can do as parents to encourage our children to get the physical activity they need.
“The benefits of exercise to children are clear,” Dr. Elias explains. “It’s the best medicine available to improve heart health. Exercise strengthens the heart so it doesn’t have to work as hard. And it has lots of other positive side effects. Kids who are physically active get better sleep. They have more energy and better concentration. Physical activity decreases children’s stress and improves their self-confidence. It’s also true that healthy habits begun in childhood can last a lifetime.”
Dr. Elias cites the American Heart Association recommendation that children of all ages spend at least 60 minutes every day in moderate to vigorous physical activity. And he says parents can’t assume their kids will get that in school, at gym or recess.
So, how can you encourage your children to get that healthy level of physical activity?
“It should be as fun as possible,” says Dr. Elias. “You don’t want it to be forced.” As adults, we have the idea of exercise as a “should-do” activity. That won’t work with kids. “Play” is a better word than “exercise” when you nudge your kids into physical activity, especially younger kids.
Here are some ideas from Dr. Elias and Rachel DeHaven, an exercise physiologist with CHOP’s Healthy Weight Program:
“The key is to encourage physical activity that your kids enjoy,” says Dr. Elias. “They should see it as play, not as forced exercise. It should be a part of their day they look forward to. When kids have active time every day, they feel better. They’re calmer. They sleep better. Their thinking is sharper. And their hearts are healthier.”
Contributed by: Matthew Elias, MD
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