Fitness & Exercise for Kids
It’s never too soon to encourage a love of physical activity in
kids by exposing them to fun
fitness activities and sports. Doctors say
that participating in different activities develops motor skills and
muscles and reduces the risk of developing overuse injuries. In the
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) recommends children get at least one hour of exercise every day.
This may seem like a lot, but it’s easy to see how the minutes can add
up when you consider all of the running and playing an active child does
on a daily basis.Here are some guidelines to help you choose age-appropriate fitness activities for your kids.
Age 5
Age 5 and Younger
Preschoolers can play team sports like soccer, basketball, or
T–ball as long as your expectations are realistic. Any sport at this age
should be about play, not competition. Most 5-year-old children aren’t
coordinated enough to hit a pitched ball and don’t have true
ball-handling skills on the soccer field or basketball court.
Preschoolers tend to love water. It’s fine to introduce kids to water safety between 6 months and 3 years old. The American Red Cross, the country’s leading water safety and instruction organization, recommends that preschoolers and their parents first enroll in a basic course. These usually teach blowing bubbles and underwater exploration before starting formal swimming lessons. Children are ready to learn breath control, floating, and basic strokes at about age 4 or 5.
script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js">Preschoolers tend to love water. It’s fine to introduce kids to water safety between 6 months and 3 years old. The American Red Cross, the country’s leading water safety and instruction organization, recommends that preschoolers and their parents first enroll in a basic course. These usually teach blowing bubbles and underwater exploration before starting formal swimming lessons. Children are ready to learn breath control, floating, and basic strokes at about age 4 or 5.
Ages 6 to 8
Children have developed enough by age 6 that it’s possible for
them to hit a pitched baseball and pass a soccer ball or basketball.
They can also do gymnastics routines and confidently pedal and steer a
two-wheeled bike. Now is the time to expose children to diverse athletic
and fitness-related activities.
Different sports stress growth plates differently, and the variety helps ensure healthy overall development. Overuse injuries, such as stress fractures and heel pain in soccer players, are increasingly common and happen when kids play the same sport season after season.
Different sports stress growth plates differently, and the variety helps ensure healthy overall development. Overuse injuries, such as stress fractures and heel pain in soccer players, are increasingly common and happen when kids play the same sport season after season.
Age 9 to 11
Ages 9 to 11
Eye-hand coordination really kicks in at this point. Children are
usually able to hit and accurately throw a baseball and make solid
contact with a golf or tennis ball. It’s okay to encourage competition,
as long as you don’t put all the focus on winning. If children are
interested in participating in events such as short triathlons or
distance running races, these are safe as long as children have trained
for the event and maintain healthy hydration.
Ages 12 to 14
Kids may lose interest in the structured environment of organized
sports as they reach adolescence. They may wish to focus instead on
strength- or muscle-building exercises. Unless your child has entered
puberty, discourage lifting heavy weights. Encourage healthier options,
such as stretchy tubes and bands, as well as body-weight exercises like
squats and push-ups. These develop strength without putting bones and
joints in danger. Prepubescent kids should never attempt a
one-rep max in the weight room. Children are at the biggest risk of
injury during periods of growth spurts, such as those experienced during
the early teenage years. A child who lifts too much weight or uses
incorrect form when throwing or running can break bones.
Age 15 and Up
Age 15 and Older
Once your teen has gone through puberty and is ready to lift
weights, urge them to take a weight-training class or a few sessions
with an expert. Poor form can harm muscles and cause fractures.
If your high schooler expresses interest in endurance events like triathlons or marathons, there’s no reason to say no. Just keep an eye on nutrition and hydration, and learn to recognize the signs of heat-related illness. Remember that proper training is just as important for teens as it is for their parents. Many races have minimum age requirements.
Building a healthy foundation is important for raising children into healthy adults. Children are naturally active and encouraging this with fitness guidance will create lasting habits.
If your high schooler expresses interest in endurance events like triathlons or marathons, there’s no reason to say no. Just keep an eye on nutrition and hydration, and learn to recognize the signs of heat-related illness. Remember that proper training is just as important for teens as it is for their parents. Many races have minimum age requirements.
Building a healthy foundation is important for raising children into healthy adults. Children are naturally active and encouraging this with fitness guidance will create lasting habits.
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