Top 10 Reasons Children Should Exercise

Why should children exercise? Here are the top 10 reasons why helping kids become active once again is worth the disruption to our adult lives:

1- Children who are active 60 minutes per day demonstrate lower rates of obesity.

2- Greater rates of activity in children have been associated with higher test scores in reading and math.

3- Physical (body) and cognitive (brain) development go hand-in-hand. While this continues for life, this relationship is most critical at a young age. When kids are active, their brain develops, allowing for new types of activity.

4- Frequent physical activity has been associated with improved behavior in the classroom and beyond.

5- Aerobic activity has been shown to increase the size of essential brain structures and number of neural connections.

6- Frequent activities requiring a high degree of balance and coordination have been associated with improved emotional response.

7- Frequent exercise decreases symptoms of depression and anxiety in children.

8- Regular exercise with children promotes self-efficacy with regard to health and self-image.

9- Play-based activity that requires a high degree of sensory input (sight, sound, touch, etc.) helps develop a broad array of skills that make physical activity more enjoyable later in life.

10- It appears that active children are more likely to become active adults.

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