The importance of physical activity in children

Increased physical activity has been associated with an increased life expectancy and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Physical activity produces overall physical, psychological and social benefits. Inactive children are likely to become inactive adults. (www.americanheart.org/presenter.) Physical activity is important in young children to improve child fitness in health-related and skills-related, controlling weight, reducing blood pressure, reducing the risk of diabetes and improve psychological well being.
Preschoolers involved in physical activities are working on their developmental skills such as running, hopping, walking, skipping, or climbing, and jumping. These physical activities come natural to most preschoolers and school-age children. (Robertson, p. 267) It is also important that children work on throwing, catching, and kicking. These types of activities can help children build endurance, flexibility and strength. Preschoolers should have at least one hour of structured play that allows for movement and physical activity, children can mastery these skills by doing them consistently on a daily routine.
Children may develop a lot of health issues as a result of lack of physical fitness. Children may become obese as a result of lack of physical fitness. When a child becomes obesity, it is a condition where excess body fat affects their health or well-being. Children are usually emotional or may have bad mood swings; this may cause them to be unable to focus in school. Childhood obesity can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and sleep problems. Children may also become overweight as a result of lack of physical activities. When a child is overweight, it may also cause harm to preschoolers and school age children, they may become type 2 diabetes, develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma and other breathing problems. Children who are overweight are more susceptible to eating disorders and are more likely to develop depression, constant teasing and low self-esteem. It is important to involve toddlers, preschoolers, and school age children in physical activities. A child’s self-esteem maybe impacted by showing and providing children love and encouraging them to become involve in physical activities. (www.athealth.com/consumer/disorders) Adults can help preschoolers and school age children develop good fitness habits by playing games with them. Teachers may add physical components such as playing musical chairs, or even moving chairs around. Children should have plenty of room to move their bodies, so they can be more physically active. Teachers should encourage children to take an active part in the playground area such as swinging on the swings or jumping on trampolines and playing ball. When a child is swinging, it allows them to use their muscles in both their arms and legs allowing them to move them back and forth. Children who jumps on a trampoline, allows themselves to use their muscles in their legs back and forth, jumping up and down and it allows them to use their locomotor skills. Playing ball on the playground allows preschoolers to use manipulative and shows action by throwing and catching the ball. (www.extension.iastate.edu/)
In conclusion, one inspirational, quote that captures my attitude about fostering children’s healthy growth and development is to be supportive, help children to accept and feel good about them by supporting, accepting, and encouraging them, regardless of their body size and shape. Build self-esteem by praising each child’s strengths. A positive impact that physical activity have on children’s health is that it will help children to build motor skills, learn about physical fitness, and lay the ground work for a healthy active lifestyle as children become adults.

References
Robertson, C. (2007). Safety, Nutrition, and Health in Early Education. Belmont, CA
Retrieved October 9, 2007 from (www.americanheart.org/presenter)
Retrieved October 9, 2007 from (www.athealth.com/consumer/disorders)
Retrieved October 9, 2007 from (www.extension.iastate.edu/)
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