The Importance of Physical Activity

Instilling physical activity as a lifestyle gives a child an advantage on the path to enduring health and fitness.
 
Play activities are essential for babies, toddlers and young children! Experts are now saying that physical activity is an absolute necessity if an individual is to reach his/her greatest potential.

The path to a happier, healthier life is to form a love of physical activity and desire for an active lifestyle. This connection holds best when it happens early and is strengthened if the activity is surrounded by fun, excitement and the rewards from feeling good about oneself. Dr. Steven Waltrip, an expert in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation, says, “Joy and confidence in one’s own ability play a large part in determining whether or not a child will proceed with his/her physical activity and healthy habits.”
 
A child’s physical development plays a significant role in his/her future well-being. Studies by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports have shown that a child who participates in at least one hour of rigorous physical activity each day is less apt to become stressed, more likely to be happy, and less liable to participate in crime later in life.

With the decreased availability of safe play in parks and neighborhood streets, and with the diminished priority given to physical education in school curricula, the parent’s job of seeing that a child has proper physical exercise has become much more challenging. And, perhaps more importantly, the establishing of physical activity as a lifestyle must begin in the early years.
 
Article provided by Judi and Jason Goldman, Owners of My Gym. My Gym is a proven, award winning childrens fitness program over 25 years old. We are the parents of two boys and have been running My Gym for almost 4 years. Picture courtesy of MyGym.com.