Are School Exercise Programs Shortchanging Kids?

Kids do a lot of sitting. Between resting in a chair at school seven hours a day - and watching television when they get home, it’s not surprising that kids are overweight and develop health problems at a younger age. Even school exercise programs fall short in helping kids get the benefits of exercise.

Are Kids Exercising at School?

A report published by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development points out that kids only get around 25 minutes per week of vigorous exercise as part of most school exercise programs. This is woefully short of the four to seven hours per week most experts recommend.

The Benefits of Exercise for Children

How important is exercise for kids? A recent study carried out in Germany looked at the benefits of exercise for children. They divided sixth grade kids into two groups. One group took part in a daily school exercise program, while the second group participated only in school sports activities, which amounted to about two hours of exercise per week. They tested the physical fitness level of the kids before and after the three year study through treadmill exercise testing, blood work and a physical exam.

Did the kids who exercised at school experience benefits? The children who took part in a daily school exercise program had lower blood pressures at the end of the study than the control group, and they had better cardiovascular fitness, which could mean a lower risk of heart disease later in life.

The benefits of exercise for children are well described. Not only does it help with weight control and heart health, it relieves stress, boosts confidence and reduces the risk of health problems such as heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes later in life. Unfortunately, most school exercise programs aren’t giving children the amount and intensity of exercise they need for health.

For example, according to this survey, just under 6% of kids had physical education five times a week. Most had it only two times a week. Sadly, during that time, they only engaged in, on average, just under five minutes of vigorous exercise and about 12 minutes of moderate exercise.

Kids aren’t exercising at school enough, so it’s important for parents to motivate kids to stay active at home. Limit kid’s television and computer time and send them outdoors to play - or take them to a playground for an hour when they get home from school. Get them involved in a sport they can participate in most days. Give them the task of taking the dog for a brisk walk every afternoon. Find ways to help them get at least thirty minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day.

Kids Exercising at School: The Bottom Line?

Since schools aren’t doing their job of keeping kids active, parents need to take up the slack. Don’t put your child at risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, because he’s too sedentary. Keep your child moving.

References:

Medical News Today. “Daily School Exercise Decreases Blood Pressure in School Children”

National Institute of Health News Release. “Study Suggests Schools Lacking in Exercise Programs for Children”

Childhood Television Viewing Could Make Your Child Dumb

Want a smarter child? A new study shows that keeping children away from television while they’re still toddlers could make them smarter, thinner, and healthier later in childhood – and in life.

A Smarter Kid? Turn Off the Television

In a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, researchers looked at the television viewing habits of 1,314 kids at 29 months and at 53 months of age. They also looked at their BMI (body mass index) and their school performance. What did they find?

As might be expected, kids who watched more television at two years of age were less healthy overall and had more problems academically. For each additional hour of childhood television watching a child engaged in at age two, the more likely he or she was to have academic problems, eat greater quantities of junk food, get less exercise, and have a higher BMI. This is clearly not what most parents want for their kids.

To Get a Smarter Kid – Exercise Their Mind

The researchers in this study emphasized that limiting childhood television viewing early in life is important – during the critical time when a child’s brain is developing rapidly and habits and preferences are being formed. This is a time when children should be engaged in creative pursuits that challenge their minds to think in new ways such as brain games, playing an instrument, and doing puzzles – rather than watching television.

Physical Activity Counts Too

Outdoor play is important not only for increasing coordination and reducing the risk of obesity, but for establishing a lifelong habit of good health. One study showed that how children play determines how healthy they are as adults. The more children engage in creative activities and active play, they more likely they are to be healthy adults of normal weight.

Limit Television to Less Than Two Hours a Day

Childhood television viewing is on the rise – and kids are spending less time outdoors playing. This not only increases the risk of health problems such as obesity, but academic problems as well. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting a child’s television viewing to less than two hours a day – something that many parents aren’t doing.

The Bottom Line

Give your child a nudge and encourage them to take a break from the television – the sooner the better. It could pay off later when your child is healthier and gets better grades.

References:

Medical News Today website. “Study Finds Early Exposure To TV Has Negative And Long-Term Impact”.
Medical News Today website. “Creative And Active Play In Childhood Is Linked To Good Adult Health