Children on the move: why sport is so important

Why is exercise so important for children?

Exercise is an essential part of children’s lives. Even in infants, kicking is the only possibility of non-verbal communication. The child’s brain, which is not yet fully developed at the beginning, needs stimulation in the first years of life so that nerve connections can develop and network. The more stimuli from the musculoskeletal system that reach the brain, the better it can develop. Even as they develop, children enjoy movement and run, balance, climb, jump and romp to discover their environment. Thus, the movement itself can also be seen as an indispensable part of a holistic child development.

Lack of exercise for children harmful

A lack of exercise can cause serious problems for children. The consequences range from poor physical fitness, obesity, poor posture, a weak immune system and reduced mental performance to diseases such as type 2 diabetes. These consequences could be avoided by doing more sport in everyday life.

Children need more exercise than adults

While adults need physical activity of around 60 minutes two to three times a week to maintain their physical performance, children should exercise for at least one to two hours a day to build up their organic functions.

How are children encouraged through exercise?

• Strong bones: Through hopping, jumping, climbing and running in the first few years of life, the bone substance becomes stronger and denser.
• Posture: The spine of your offspring can only develop properly through a lot of movement.
• Musculature: Sport develops the musculature that your child needs, for example, to lift his head or stretch his back.
• Health: Children who are physically active every day have more energy and are less prone to illness.
• Motor skills: Whether it’s rocking, turning, climbing or jumping – your child gets an idea of ​​his body and his abilities through a variety of sporting activities. At the same time, his sense of balance is developing.
• Mental abilities: Since every movement is registered via sense organs, physical movements are also considered special sensory activity. This means that movement and intellectual development are inextricably linked. For example, children who are good at walking backwards often have less trouble subtracting in math classes.
• Self-confidence: Through exercise, children learn to correctly assess their physical strength. For example, if your offspring competes with another child and wins, their self-confidence will be strengthened. But even if your child loses, it can boost their self-confidence. Your encouragement can help him not give up and try again.
• Social Skills: Playing sports teaches children to abide by the rules and be considerate of their teammates. For example, they have to wait their turn and coordinate their movements and actions to make a good team.
• Good mood: Exercise puts you in a good mood – just ten minutes of exercise a day lifts your spirits. Mood and well-being improve in proportion to the amount of exercise, because the body’s own messenger substances, so-called neurotransmitters, are released. For example, serotonin puts you in a good mood and reduces feelings of anxiety.

Be a role model for children when it comes to movement

As a parent, you have the greatest influence on your child’s physical activity behavior. If you do a lot of sport, ride your bike or run instead of using the car and spend your holidays or free time actively and with lots of exercise, then this will also affect your children. It is therefore important that you promote fun in joint ventures.