Kids and Exercise

Kids who are 6 to 12 years old need physical activity to build strength, coordination, and confidence. It’s important to give your school age child as many opportunities as possible to be active. Its recommended that kids 6 to 12 years old get 60 minutes or more of physical activity every day, and also avoid periods of inactivity of 2 hours or more. 

Through physical activity, kids can learn about setting goals, meeting challenges, sportsmanship, teamwork, and the value of practice. If your child doesn’t like soccer, basketball, or other team sports, explore other options and encourage your child to be creative. There are plenty of fun and challenging activities that your child might like more: karate, swimming, golf, bicycling, skateboarding, and tennis just to name a few!

Kids who participate in sports are at risk for injuries, so be sure your child wears the appropriate protective equipment, such as a helmet and gloves when bicycling.  Kids who specialize in one sport are also at risk of overuse injuries, including stress fractures and joint injuries.

Staying fit can help improve a child’s self esteem, maintain a healthy weight, and decrease the risk of serious illness such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Children who enjoy sports and exercise tend to stay active throughout their lives!