Keeping kids fit and active will benefit them.

Make fitness fun for your kids

Photo: TPG/Click Photos

Just like eating and sleeping, sports and physical activity should be part of your child's daily routine. By adding physical activity to their everyday life, you’re giving your child a more holistic upbringing.

The best part about adding physical activity is that it can start right away — even before they crawl, your child can engage in floor-based play.

For kids below 7 years old, up to 3 hours of active play in a safe environment is perfect. It doesn’t have to be all at once, though.

Older children (from 7 to 18 years old) should have at least 60 minutes of physical activity in a day. Try to get them to do vigorous-intensity physical activity (including those that strengthen muscles and bones) at least three times per week.

What’s just as important as exercise is limiting your children’s screen time — TV, devices, phones. Try to keep your children to less than two hours per day. Sitting still for too long isn’t good for children. Get them to break up their screen time with 15 minutes of physical activity every hour.

Benefits of staying active

When children have an active lifestyle there are many benefits:
• Improved cardio-respiratory endurance and muscular fitness.
• Favourable body composition.
• Improved bone health.
• Improve cardio-respiratory and metabolic health markers.
• Reduced symptoms of stress and anxiety.
• Improved self-esteem.
• Some studies also indicate that engaging in outdoor activities can help prevent myopia.
 

This article is courtesy of Health Promotion Board.