TOPICS: Your child’s physical fitness
In today’s society, most children are not active, and parents are not very interested in it. Because the five-year scholarship, the exam-oriented education and lifestyle like the regular school, and the high school, have managed to keep children away from physical activity. Many parents also prevent their child from engaging in physical activity, thinking that it will disrupt their child’s education. This process, instead of making the child a healthy learner, appears to be increasing the child’s risk of becoming a sick person in the future. Why should your child be active?
If your child is not active, he or she has an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and certain cancers in the future. In particular, if a female child gains weight due to inactivity, the possibility of her having irregular periods and sub-fertility increases in the future. That is because the weight gain changes the normal hormonal activity in her body.
For your child’s future to be healthy, you should engage in physical activities as mentioned below.
- If your child is less than one year old, no specific physical activity is necessary.
- If your child is 1-3 years old, he should be doing at least 1 1/2 hours of physical activity a day.
- If the child is 3-5 years old, he should engage in physical activity for at least 2 hours a day.
- If your child is over 5 years of age, doctors suggest that he should engage in physical activity or sports for at least an hour a day.
Children under the age of 5 should not be physically inactive for more than one hour at a time when they are awake. Also, it is not healthy for children over 5 years of age to be physically inactive for more than two hours at a time during their waking hours.
A child who engages in regular physical activity has many benefits to improve their health, life, and education.
- Muscles grow stronger.
- Heart and lungs are strong and healthy.
- Bone density increases and becomes stronger.
- Increases physical and mental endurance.
- Improves body flexibility.
- Physical activity and daily activities reduce the risk of accidents.
- As excess body fat is reduced, the risk of obesity or weight gain is reduced.
- In the future, the risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and certain cancers is significantly reduced.
- Children with good physical fitness are more likely to get good sleep. Human growth hormone is secreted during sleep, so the physical and mental development of such children is good.
- When a child who regularly engages in physical activities is awake, mentally active, he is able to successfully carry out educational activities.
- The risk of developing mental conditions including stress, depression, and anxiety is also reduced.
- The child’s personality improves.
- For a girl child, the risk of irregular menstrual cycles and subfertility is reduced in the future.
In order for your child to be physically active, time spent watching the television, computer, or playing video games should be limited. If your child is under two years of age, television or computer viewing should not be allowed. If your child is more than two years old, the time spent using TV and computer should be reduced to less than 1-2 hours a day.
It is your duty as a parent to help your child engage in the following activities or other such games, as appropriate.
- walking
- running
- swimming
- Cycling.
- Basketball.
- football.
- Badminton.
- Tennis.
Help your child engage in age-appropriate physical activity. It is best to make a specific schedule for daily sports or physical activity. Encourage the child to be physically active in daily activities. Keep in mind that if everyone in the family engages in sports and physical activities together, all family members will be able to live a healthy life.