The Benefits of Exercise- For Kids!

During the summer time you will find my daughter playing outside for hours, swimming, riding her bike and scooter,  jumping on the trampoline, taking family walks, and hiking around in the mountains on the weekends. But during the cold winter months in Colorado, I find it hard to make sure my daughter is getting enough exercise!

It is very important that children receive aerobic activity daily. The CDC recommends children and adolescents get at least 60 minutes or more of physical activity a day. Keeping them moving is beneficial in so many ways!

We all know that exercise provides endless health benefits for people of all ages, but let us take a look specifically how it can benefit our children:

•   Helps control body fat
•  Builds stronger bones and muscles
• Decreases the risk of type 2 diabete
• Reduce the chance to become overweight
•  Lowers cholesterol and blood pressure
•  Creates a stronger Immune System
•   Improves ability to absorbs oxygen = more energy
•   Develops reflexes and coordination
•  Strengthens lungs and heart

Exercise can also be a great benefit to our children’s mental health! Regular activity can benefit our children in the following ways:

•  Improves memory
•   Helps reduce anxiety
• Reduces stress and creates a happier demeanor
•  Builds high self esteem and confidence
•  Improves Sleep
• Improves Concentration

 Reduce the number of hours your children are in front T.V. and get them up and moving. The more children are indoors, the less likely they are to be exercising, so it can be quite difficult to make sure children remain active when it’s cold outside. Getting quality exercise can come with scheduled activity or just playing games. Here are a few fun, indoor activities to help your children have “healthy bodies and happy hearts”.

·         DANCE! Primrose Schools of Thornton, Stapleton and Reunion participated in a Valentine’s Day Dance to keep their feet moving and heart a pumping!  Get your family moving in a nightly dance off! It is a fun and silly way to make sure we are all up and moving!

·         High Jump! All families are a little competitive! Make this fun exercise a completion and a work out at the same time! Find a large empty wall space and see how high each person can jump! Mark it with a piece of masking tape! Try to reach each person’s jump mark and see who can jump the highest! Jumping for even 5 minutes will help get heart rates up and strengthen leg and core muscles!

·         Turn on the TV! Yes I said it, turn on the TV to exercise! You know those work out videos you loath? (or at least I do) Turn one on for the kids! It is not only great exercise, but a great way to learn to follow directions and practice those counting skills!

·         Tag, Your It! This is a family favorite of ours! We love to run around the house to play tag! Jumping across beds, running up and down stairs and around tables! What a fun way to get exercise in! They won’t even know you are exercising!

·         Sign Up! Sign you kids up to join an extracurricular sport such as t-ball, soccer, basketball or tennis. This can keep them moving after school or even on the weekends.

      Get your kids up and moving, and don’t forget to join them. These benefits and more are waiting for you as well! Don't forget to check out the Friday Home Fun Activities and our Parent Tip of the week for more exercise ideas!

Check out our facebook pages to see how kids at Primrose Schools of Thornton, Stapleton and Reunion got their bodies moving and their hearts pumping during their "Healthy Bodies, Happy Hearts Valentine's Day Dance". Children not only participated to enjoy some fun exercise, but also to help raise money for Children at Children's Hospital of Colorado! Tune in to Alice 105.9 on Feb. 22nd during the 36 hrs. for kids marathon for a chance to help raise more money for Children's Hospital! Primrose Staff will be there to take your call! 

WebMD Reference

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