The Benefits of Exercise for Young Children - Research Paper Example

The Benefits of Exercise for Young Children Why do parents need to encourage their children to be active? What are the consequences of sedentary lifestyle for children? These questions motivate this research which focuses on the benefits of exercise for young children. They are often taken for granted and only few parents can list them all. Lack of knowledge makes parents less motivated to keep their children active in their free time. However, there are numerous studies which test this axiom and provide comprehensive evidence to underpin the belief that exercise is good for young children. Physical activity for young children is a must because it positively influences physical and psychological development of every child and has numerous benefits for their health. It is not a secret that children are very active and they need to spend their energy on different activities daily. Physical activity is required in order to create conditions where children can develop harmoniously. According to Sallis, Prochaska, & Taylor, most studies recommend spending at least 30 minutes a day on exercising because it is associated with specific health benefits (963). American Heart Association (AHA) recommends spending at least 60 minutes a day on moderate to vigorous activities for children stressing the importance of physical activities for growing organisms. Alongside with these recommendations, it is suggested that children should not spend more than 2 hours a day watching TV or playing videogames (“The AHA's Recommendations”). Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifies that physical activities for children need to be diverse. They can be divided in aerobic, bone strengthening and muscle strengthening activities. Aerobics includes running or brisk walking. Gymnastics and push-ups are listed in muscle strengthening activities which are recommended to do 3 times a week. Bone strengthening is achieved by running, rope jumping or climbing trees. All three components need to be included in 60 minutes recommended for physical activities a day to keep children fit (“How much physical activity do children need?”). One hour a day is an optimal duration which does not require all parents and children to change their lifestyles. Comprehensive guidelines of health organizations make the process easier offering ready-made recommendations for different age-groups. At the same time; according to Burdette & Whitaker, children spend less time on physical activities than they used to do 10 and 20 years ago. The time of free play has dropped by 25%; children tend to play with their peers using new alternatives (Burdette & Whitaker 47). Video games, television and computers change the role of active games in their lives. For instance, children who watch TV 2 or more hours a day spend only 30 minutes outdoors (Burdette & Whitaker 47). Sedentary lifestyle which is associated with watching TV and playing videogames results in a number of negative health outcomes including obesity, aggressiveness and anti-social behaviors. Parents who are concerned with the health of their children often face difficulties related to implementing changes in activities of their children. It is necessary to understand all benefits of exercise for young children in order not to make their current and future health better. Growing bodies need special care and attention. Physical activity is a must if parents want their child to be well-developed and healthy. Exercise contributes to bone, muscle, heart and lungs development. It is proved to be effective prevention for diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. All these aspects need to be discussed in detail to show the significance of exercise for all children. First of all, the studies list positive impact of exercise on bone health, strengths, flexibility. According to Warden et al., all physical activities have the strongest impact on the growing skeleton. It is the reason why children who regularly exercise contribute to their future health by making their bones stronger. The majority of cases of complicated fractures take place in adulthood; children who exercise or play recommended amount of time outdoors are less likely to experiences them (Warden et al. 253). Growing bones adapt to increased loads and become more sustainable in adulthood. Exercises for children are considered to be prevention for osteoporosis; this condition appears to take place when bones become weak. Moreover, physical activities are good preventive measures for arthritis which is characterized by pain and deformations of joints (Warden et al. 253). Different physical activities develop motor functions and various skills which can be very useful for children. Well-developed reflexes can improve movement coordination and sense of equilibrium which are necessary for all people (Williams et al. 1421). In this way, children prevent disease and develop new skills simultaneously. Playing with friends or attending sport clubs children contribute to health of their bones, muscles and joints and motor functions development. Second of all, children who exercise regularly train their cardiovascular system. Well-organized exercise can help children to make their hearts stronger. It can train both heart and lungs making them work in different conditions. Children breathe intensively when they exercise; it brings more oxygen to their body making heart and lungs work faster. Developed heart and lungs can prevent problems related to low or high blood pressure (“The AHA's Recommendations”). On the other hand, it is critical to supervise children because growing bodies can face difficulties coping with activities which last for too long. Well-qualified couches and instructors can recommend appropriate activities for children of different age with regard to developmental processes in their organisms. Considering the fact that heart disease is the primary cause of death in the USA, it is necessary to do everything possible to make it stronger and more sustainable (“The AHA's Recommendations”). One more important benefit of exercise for young children is its ability to be an effective weight-control tool. Obesity in young children is a serious problem in the USA. According to CDC, the number of obese and overweight children in the USA has doubled. The main cause of obesity is defined as caloric imbalance which is presented by significant different in calories consumed and calories spent a day (“Health Effects”). Obese children have a great risk of prediabetic and diabetic conditions. They suffer from increased blood pressure, trouble breathing as well as psychological and social problems. Overweight and obese children have increased risks of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and osteoarthritis in their future (“Health Effects”). Physical activity is an effective method of coping with child obesity. Active children tend to be less likely to become overweight or obese in their live. Their bodies are fit and their muscles are well trained. Children who spend much time on sedentary activities like watching TV tend to be less aware about the importance of healthy eating and exercising. On the contrary, children who exercise tend to burn more calories and eat fewer snacks during a day. Normal weight is a prerequisite of future health because obesity has a long list of negative effects on health. American Heart Association insists on the fact that even overweight and obese children need to have relevant amount of appropriate physical activities a day (“The AHA's Recommendations”). Accompanied by healthy diet and community support, exercise can help children to control their weights and keep their bodies fit. To add to the point, active children tend to be more resistant to different viral infections. The study by Cieslak et al. shows that children who are more active report fewer sick days. Even though the study does not discover strong significance of exercise for secretory immunity, it clearly states that increased body weight and sedentary lifestyle make children more vulnerable (Cieslak et al. 2315). Another study by Woods et al. supports these findings; it adds the people with sedentary lifestyle are proved to have more frequent inflammatory infections than their active peers. The processes which connect exercise and immune function are still not clear to scientists; however, they have enough evidence to state that exercise makes children healthier. All these positive effects of exercise on physical development of children are only one side of the coin. There are many ways in which physical activity impacts mental health of children and helps them to socialize and develop. Researchers who study the connection between exercise and mental health state that it can be used as prevention for depression. It also helps children to develop necessary personal skills and improves their cognitive functioning. For instance, exercise is proved to be effective in coping with daily stress, anxiety and depression. There are many studies which focus on the effect of physical activity on stress and anxiety in children and adolescents. The study by Larun et al. concludes that regular and well-organized physical exercise can have positive effect as a preventive intervention for depression and anxiety. Authors suggest that physical exercise is a part of intervention that helps children to cope with daily stress and emotions (Larun et al. 7). There are many activities which can be attractive for different children; all of them can find their way to become happier and more active. The study by Brand et al. support these results showing that sportive children are less likely to display depressive symptoms compared to their peers who have passive lifestyle. According to Biddle, and Asare, physical activities boost self-esteem in children at least for some time. It is very important because they learn to compete and estimate their achievements. Some studies show that physical activities and exercise improve cognitive performance. Compared to active way of life, sedentary behavior negatively correlates with mental health (Biddle & Asare 887-888). In this way, exercise visibly contributes to child emotional wellbeing making them more sustainable, energetic and happy. It is very important for harmonic development. Cognitive development is stimulated by physical activities for young children. Attention is an important element of cognitive functions which can be improved as a result of active way of life in childhood. Attention involves impulse control and inhibition. This cognitive function is important because it improves learning potential of every child making it easier to concentrate on some activity and consider different detail related to it. National survey results show that out of 500 people involved in the study, 90%a of parents and 86% of teachers believe that active children learn and behave better than their peers (Burdette & Whitaker 47). It proves that exercise positively correlates with concentration and ability to learn. Any physical activity is related to achievements and self-improvement. Exercising or playing creates a specific environment where children need to focus on their own skills and develop them with the purpose to perform better. As a result, they grow up in stimulating environment and practice their decision-making and problem-solving skills (Burdette & Whitaker 47). If parents focus on entertaining aspects of physical activities, they develop strong positive association with sport in their children. Moreover, they help their children to become more creative, innovative and original in their thinking. One more benefit of exercise for young children is that it makes them sleep better and eat better (Brand et al. 135). They become more energetic compared to their peers who do not spend enough time outdoors. The study by Brand et al. focuses on adolescents; however, it draws general conclusions that physical exercise results in better sleep patterns for people. Athletes involved in the study needed less sleeping hours a day to feel energetic and happy. The quality of their sleep was much better because they experience fewer awakenings during the sleep. As a result, they restore their energy quicker than those children and teenagers who are not interested in active way of life. Another important benefit of exercise for young children is peer socialization based on interests. Communication in various sport clubs or community centers is different from home or school environment. It becomes a relevant experience of group communication where children compete and cooperate together. Collective games and sports can develop leadership skills in children; they also teach them to work in team and consider what other people think (Burdette & Whitaker 48). All these interpersonal skills have great impact on future of every child. Sallis, Prochaska, & Taylor stress the importance of physical activities for young children because they foster healthy behaviors in their adulthood (964). If a child regularly exercises and follows a healthy diet, the probability of the same active and healthy lifestyle in the future increases. Active way of life results in appearance of many healthy habits which can be useful for children when they grow up. Young children who perceive exercise or physical activities as important part of their lives retain this interest in their future. It this way, if children spend enough time exercising or playing outdoors, they contribute to their future motivation to have the same active lifestyle. Parents can contribute to positive memories of their children related to physical activity. The study by Burdette & Whitaker suggest that the word ‘exercise’ has a negative connotation unlike the word ‘play’ which is perceived to be entertaining and fun (46). Offering children to play is better than making them exercise. This little trick can motivate more children to be more active and spend more time outdoors instead of watching TV or playing videogames. In summary, exercise is important for children in order to keep their bodies and minds healthy. Healthy bones, muscles and joints will make growing bodies strong, flexible and sustainable. Training of heart and lungs will positively impact to fitness of hearts and lungs when children grow up. Better sleep patterns and active way of life bring up active, energetic and optimistic personalities. Mental health also benefits from exercise preventing depression and anxiety in children. Ability of concentrate and learn also benefit from exercise and become useful in school education and classroom discipline. All these benefits positively impact lives of young children and their future. It is the reason why parents, educators and community should stimulate children to be active. All benefits of exercise for young children listed in this essay are crucial for their lives; they contribute to general health, life quality and their healthy future. Works Cited “Health Effects of Childhood Obesity”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2014. July 14, 2014. < http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm > “How much physical activity do children need?”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2014. Web. July 14, 2014. < http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/children.html> “The AHA's Recommendations for Physical Activity in Children”. American Heart Association. 2014. Web. July 13, 2014. Biddle, Stuart, and Mavis Asare. "Physical Activity and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: A Review of Reviews." British Journal of Sports Medicine 45.1 (2011): 886-895. Brand, Serge, et al. "High Exercise Levels are Related to Favorable Sleep Patterns and Psychological Functioning in Adolescents: A Comparison of Athletes and Controls." Journal of Adolescent Health 46.2 (2010): 133-141. Burdette, Hillary L., and Robert C. Whitaker. 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"Motor Skill Performance and Physical Activity in Preschool Children." Obesity 16.6 (2008): 1421-1426. Woods, Jeffrey A., Victoria J. Vieira, and K. Todd Keylock. "Exercise, Inflammation, and Innate Immunity." Immunology and allergy clinics of North America 29.2 (2009): 381-393. Read More