Importance of physical exercise and sport in children

The importance of physical exercise and sport is reflected in the health and vitality of children. Endurance, flexibility and strength all come from the boys' dedication to practices in which their bodies move or exercise. But of course, not all physical activity is exercise, nor is all exercise sport.

Although all these areas are fundamental and each practice has its own requirements and demands, there are substantial differences. With regard to physics, they include all movements and actions that involve the child's bones, muscles and joints. They range from walking, running, or jumping in everyday domestic life to playing or being distracted outdoors.

Physical exercise, on the other hand, already requires planning, routines, methodology; previous steps that are part of sports practice. Contemplate competition, recreation, and rule-based play. It requires continuous training to achieve its improvement.

Benefits of physical exercise and sports in children

Known the difference between physical exercise and sport in children, the benefits also correspond and order. Because although with exercise the body acquires resistance, flexibility and strength, with sport there is a more specific social and collective burden.

All children need to exercise physically, at least one hour, but not all get to develop or perform in a specific sport. It is always up to parents to create the conditions that are conducive to it.

The importance of physical exercise and sport is manifested in its benefits. The prevention of obesity, the release of endorphins with the consequent feeling of well-being and a balanced diet. All this, together, will provide the child with health and well-being. In addition to influencing other aspects, such as those that we will see below.

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Improved cardiorespiratory endurance

This refers to the preparation of the muscles for physical efforts that require a longer time of effort from the heart and lungs. It is also an indicator of the child's health, as it reveals the level of oxygenation in the blood, which allows optimal muscle performance.

Increased flexibility

It is the ability of the joints to move in arches as wide as possible. In the early years, children are naturally more flexible than when they grow up. However, it is a condition that can be educated.

With flexibility increases muscle tone, tolerance to stretching, increases performance and, very importantly, reduces the risk of injury.

Increased coordination

This ability allows the child to organize and regulate a complex structure of muscles and joints in a single movement, with a specific objective. It is a complex whole that is acquired gradually.

And something essential is that coordination is at the base and the success of all physical and sports activities that are practiced. In effect, coordination will allow you a greater stock of motor resources, the foundation of your motor skills, keys to your cognitive, physical and social development.

Frustration tolerance

Sport is a planned, regular and social actionTherefore, it is subject to both personal and collective rules. So their contributions are expressed in body health, but also in the social body.

If there is effort and dedication, setbacks are much more likely to cope better. Here the guidance of parents and coaches is very necessary, who have to turn falls into learning.

Teamwork and veffort allocation

Sport is the ideal setting for the concept of teamwork to unfold and evolve. Respect for the rules and leadership, discipline, humility and recognition of the other are indispensable values ​​for life itself. And on the court or on the track, the child will put them to the test, modeling their character and personality.

The child who plays a sport begins to understand the value of cooperative work to reach the goal and triumph. In that sense, you will get a positive response from your effort, dedication, time spent in training and preparation.

Discipline

When the rules in the family and at school tend to blur, in sport they are still well regarded and fully in force. It is more than accepted that, without the rigor of discipline, it is impossible to reach preponderant places in the domain of exercises.

Enrolling the child, even if they have been diagnosed with an attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, in a training regimen and equipment will pay off. Especially in constitutive aspects such as cognitive function, executive, motor coordination, academic performance, behavior and social skills.

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Precautions of physical exercise and sports in children

Physical exercise warrants a medical examination to evaluate the child's condition; especially if he participates in a competitive sport. Parents should also prevent excessive physical strength from being imposed on them and avoid bruises as much as possible.

Any activity in which the muscles, joints and bones are put in tension and movement has to be preceded by warm-up routines. It must be conducted in moderation and force must be applied progressively.

Hydration of the child is essential. If any reaction appears, such as fatigue, nausea, dyspnea, headache or nosebleeds, among others, you should consult your doctor. If the child is obese, it is recommended that they join a guided training plan by specialists.

In this particular, a article awarded in 2011 by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition, through the Strategy for Nutrition, Physical Activity and Prevention of Obesity (NAOS), argues at length why adherence to personalized workouts is needed for overweight children.

The importance of physical exercise and sports against sedentary lifestyle and obesity

Parents face a silent enemy: sedentary lifestyle. Hence the call to reflect on the importance of physical exercise and sport in children.

There are many influences that lead them to stay connected to screens. Added to this is the intake of inappropriate, fast or poorly nutritious foods and, consequently, the appearance of socialization problems and obesity.

Physical exercise and sport will continue to be the natural and obvious alternative to overcome these behaviors that have become naturalized in society, both in adults and children. Organizing family time is essential to achieve this goal, which will have a positive impact on development.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004 had warned that obesity was the pandemic of the 21st century and in the study on the situation of childhood obesity in Spain It is stated that by 2025, the global prevalence of obesity will reach 18% in men and 21% in women.