Active Bodies, Active Minds
Physical Activity: Good for the Body, Good for the Mind
"Where do they get the energy?" It’s a constant refrain for parents who watch their kids run and run and run, seemingly from the moment they wake up to the second the bedroom light is switched off.
Well, here’s some good news: all that physical activity isn’t just helping their bodies get a good workout. It’s also helping their minds develop. Studies show that physically active kids have an easier time learning. They get more out of their time in the classroom, and cope more easily with the stresses and challenges of everyday life.
Developing A Life-Long Habit
Problem is, those active phases come and go – and they get fewer and fewer as your children age. How can you encourage your kids to keep active – and develop the kind of healthy habits that will stay with them for a lifetime?
- Start early. Get your children used to active living from an early age. A walk to the local playground instead of a drive can be a simple way to give them the message that physical activity is a normal part of life.
- Start easy. Plunging straight into high-impact exercise is a recipe for feeling tired and discouraged. Kicking around a soccer ball can do more good in the long run than joining a team they aren’t ready for.
- See what’s working, and build on it. If there’s an activity your child is already enjoying, encourage them to explore it further.
- Broaden your horizons. Offer your child new opportunities for activity, and stress the fun rather than the fitness. Everyone has their own tastes, from dancing to running to biking to swimming to basketball
Join in the fun. Children look to adults as models for living their own lives. If they see you taking on an active lifestyle, they’ll be more likely to adopt one themselves – because they look up to you, and because it’s a great way to spend time with you.