Physical Activity and Young Children

Physical Activity and Young Children

Ø  Children who are physical active lower their risk of developing many diseases.  When preschool age children are sedate and receive very little activity they increase their rate of being obese. Preschool age children who are obese have a high risk of developing “high blood pressure, high cholesterol” and “Type2 diabetes” (Centers for Dieses Control and Prevention (CDC) 2010).  Between the years “1976-1980” and “2007-2008” childhood obesity increased among preschool age children “5 to 10.4%” (CDC 2010). 

Ø  Habits of physical activity established in preschool age children promote a healthy “disposition for regular physical activity” as adults (Goodway & Robinson 2006).   Preschoolers who are physically active have a greater potential of being physically active as adults.  When a preschooler develops skills that lead to playing more organized sports, such as soccer, basketball and swimming, they are more likely to continue these activities as adults.

Ø  As children learn and develop their motor skills they are strengthen their own sense of “physical competence” (Goodway & Robinson 2006). Part of being a preschooler is learning how to use your body. This is an age where they are exploring how their bodies can move. Children need a “ mix of moderate of vigorous activities” (Raising Children Network 2006).Young children need to learn to use both “locomotive skills” and “manipulative skills”(Goodway & Robinson 2006). Locomotive skills are the activities that involve large motor skills and plenty of movement. Examples of locomotive skills are jumping, leaping, sliding and hopping (Goodway & Robinson 2006).  Manipulative skills involve activities in which children use equipment and “move objects with their hands and feet” (Goodway & Robinson 2006).   Preschoolers become excited when they learn to climb the monkey bars, throw a Frisbee or catch a ball.

Ø  Preschool age children need to be taught how to be active.  They should have “structured physical activity” for a “60 minutes per day” (National Association for Sport and Physical Activity (NASPE) 2006). This allows opportunities for parents and other positive role models to participate with the children.   Children can be taught how to play games such as, Mr. Fox, tag, duck- duck goose as well as basic skills for sports.   Along with structured activity preschoolers require a minimum of “60 minutes” of unstructured physical activity (NASPE 2006).  Unstructured physical activities can include, running, jumping, playing on playground equipment and/or just exploring the great outdoors.

Ø  Preschoolers can require the needed physical activity in both an “indoor area and an outdoor area” (NASPE 2006).  It is important for each area to be safe and designed for the developmental stage of the children using it. Indoor areas can include a large room, a small corner or any specific area that is safe for children to play in. It is important to establish “boundaries” for indoor physical activity areas (Goodway & Robinson 2006)). Examples of physical activities that can be done indoors are “making people alphabet,” “animal walks” and playing with “foam balls” (Goodway & Robinson 2006).

“The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.” By Anthony Robbins

(National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 2010)

References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2006) Childhood Overweight and Obesity, Retrieved on January 5, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.htm

Goodway, J. D., & Robinson, L. E. (2006, March). SKIPing toward an active start: Promoting Physical Activity in Preschoolers. . Retrieved on January 6, 2010  from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200605/GoodwayBTJ.pdf

National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). (2006). Active start: Physical Activity Guidelines for Children Birth to Five Years, Retrieved on January 6, 2010  from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200605/NASPEGuidelinesBTJ.pdf 

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (2010) Quotations on Health, Diet and Exercises, Retrieved on January 8, 2011 from http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/quotes/qthealth.htm

Raising Children Network (2006) Encouraging kids to be active, Retrieved on January 8,            2011 from             http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/encouraging_kids_to_be_active.html/context/216