Physical
Fitness for Children
As our
population has grown, children are losing opportunities to play outside and
socialize with neighbors. Technology has changed society by children spending
more time indoors being sedentary instead of outside being active. The child
obesity rate has increase severally since the 1980’s (CDC, 2012). Children need
to receive 60 minutes of physical activity several times a day with no more
than 60 minutes of sedentary activity a day (NASPE, 2006). Physical activity
helps children develop gross and fine motor skills. Children of preschool age
are active and enjoy games that promote physical development. I will be
presenting information about childhood obesity. Giving ideas of how adults can
encourage children to be active, and explain how it affects a child’s gross and
fine motor skills. I will give a quote that I believe says what I believe about
obesity.
General lack of physical activity and Obesity
including factors that contribute to obesity:
·
“Childhood obesity can have a harmful effect
on the body in a variety of ways” (CDC, 2012, p.1):
o
High blood pressure and high cholesterol
o
Increased risk for type 2 diabetes
o
Asthma
o
Joint problems
o
Liver Disease, gallstones and heartburn
o
Social and psychological problems
o
Obesity as an adult
·
Type of nutrition can affect childhood
obesity.
·
Low
income families may not have access to parks and yards with grass for children
to play at, which can lead to no physical activities and obesity.
·
The safety of our children is another factor
to less physical activity in children. We can no longer send children outside
to play without adult supervisor in some areas. This is why adults rely on
schools for children to receive physical activity.
·
Television, computers and gaming systems have
created a sedentary life style.
How to encourage physical activities
and how development is effected:
·
Adult’s type of physical activity can help
encourage a child to be active or can lead to a non-active child. The old
saying practice what you preach, is relevant in this situation, if an adult is
physical active then the children will be as well. If an adult has a sedentary
life style then a child will most likely lead a sedentary life style.
·
Adults need to be advocates for fitness(PBS
Parents,2012):
o
Take a walk with your child, walk the dog
together before school, ride bikes, take a yoga class together with your child;
o
Dancing, hide-go-seek, duck- duck goose, or
make cleaning up a game are games that can be played inside.
·
Make a schedule for physical activity.
·
Running, walking, jumping, and hopping are
part of the gross motor skill development.
·
Fine motor skills are developed from throwing,
catching, hitting a ball with a bat and kicking a ball.
·
The activities listed above can help a child
in their social/emotional development by building confidence and making them
interested in new experiences.
·
Cognitively physical activity can help a child
learn colors, how to follow directions and problem solving. Physical activities
can encourage learning by making it fun and exciting.
In
conclusion obesity is on the rise for our children, so with physical activity
along with proper nutrition this rate can be slowed down. Physical activity for
toddlers is a must to develop physically, cognitively, and
socially/emotionally. Adults need to take charge and be the advocate for
physically activity for children. Be creative and enjoy doing physical activities
with children. There is activities to do inside and outside with a child. Limit
the exposure to television, computers and gaming systems, and get your children
up and moving.
Reference
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC). (2008, November). Childhood
overweight and
National Association for
Sport and Physical Education. (2006, May). Active start: Physical activity
guidelines for
children
birth to five years. Beyond
the Journal: Young Children on the Web. Retrieved on October 2,
PBS Parents (2012) Motivating kids
to get fit, Retrieved on October 2, 2012 from
I really liked the points you made about childhood obesity. I teach a nutrition class for kids where we teach them how to appreciate the good and bad aspects of food. I really liked your qoute, it is so true. Thank you for a very informative blog.
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