By definition exercise is an activity that requires physical movement to sustain or improve health, so really its anything that elevates our heart rate for a period of time. We all know that exercise improves our cardiovascular system, helps maintain our hormonal system, increases brain function and impacts our overall health. Making our bones and muscles stronger, activating both the voluntary and involuntary muscles. This contraction of muscles and movement of joints and bones continuously stimulates our brain. It decreases the negative emotional stress that some of us maybe experiencing (especially this time of year when we are going back to work!) Exercise also prevents many disease processes such as diabetes, heart disease depression and cancer. I actually can not think of a system in the body that isn’t effected by exercise.
We know how exercise effects us adults , do you know how exercise or movement impacts your child or children? Many parents don’t really think of their child needing to exercise.
Exercise can impact how your child learns and retrains information. In his book Spark, Dr John Ratey makes reference of one of the largest studies based on fitness and its connection with learning in children. In this study over one million children had been assessed, over a ten year period the study showed that even a single bout of exercise such as a 20 minute walk – improved a child’s ability to concentrate and perform in academic testing that day. The effects of exercise on cognitive performance were seen straight away. In the same book anther study showed that aerobic fitness (cardio fitness) was associated with better cognitive function.
What about kids with ADHD? Studies also show that the ADHD diagnosed kids also benefited from exercise, by improving their behaviour and increasing concentration and learning, similar benefits have been found with children with autistic spectrum disorder.
Must of us are aware that adults should exercise moderately for 30-40 minutes 4-5 times a week, but what are the guidelines for babies and children? According to the Australian Government the guidelines are:
Physical Activity Recommendations
For health development in infants (birth to one year) physical activity
Toddlers (1 to 3 years) and pre-schoolers (3 to 5 years)
Floor-based play in safe environments should be encouraged from birth
Should be physically active every day for at least three hours, spread throughout the day.
Sedentary Behaviour Recommendations
Children younger than 2 years of age
For Children 2 to 5 years of age
Infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers (all children birth to 5 years)
Should not spend any time watching television or using other electronic media (DVDs, computer and other electronic games).
Sitting & watching television and the use of other electronic media (DVDs, computer and other electronic games) should be limited to less than one hour per day.
Should not be sedentary, restrained, or kept inactive, for more than one hour at a time, with the exception of sleeping.
The average child spends just over 7 hours each day on electronic devices! – seven hours a day outside of school hours! When do these children have the time to connect and talk to other people? When do they have the time to exercise? This can all lead to concentration and attention problems, learning difficulties , sleep and eating disorders. More importantly it can effect their developing emotional intelligence. These habits of screen time are created at a young age and are instilled in our children throughout there childhood and adolescents. The guidelines recommended no more then one hour per day of screen time and that they shouldn’t be restrained for a long period of time.
“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” -Leo F. Buscaglia
