How much exercise do kids really need?
22.05.12
Most little kids have boundless physical energy (when it comes to activities they like, at least) and when theyâre young, a healthy dose of activity will come in the course of a normal day without much thought. Still, educators and public health officials have guidelines to help parents make sure their little ones are getting the exercise they need for healthy development.
Beyond physical health
We all know that exercise is important for muscle strength, lean body composition, setting kids on a lifelong trajectory of good cardiovascular health, and lowering the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
But when your kid is huffing and puffing, itâs not just a benefit to her body. Physical activity has been shown to improve executive function (the ability to focus on and retain important information and filter distractions), perhaps through an increase in available blood or energy to the frontal cortex and the memory-forming hippocampus. In other words, exercise also helps your child think.
Source: Babble