Children need "hour of exercise"

Reading article "Children need "hour of exercise"" - Reply to this / 4 comment(s)
Now, I read this headline and thought "well, how can you not let them have that much exercise"

I think it's really important that kids have lots of exercise and are allowed to run around a lot during the day. I think that we would have a problem only letting our son run around for an hour a day - he hardly sits down unless he's eating or doing some sort of craft activity. Most childrens' activities are, by their very nature, active, therefore the children are getting lots of exercise - after all, at nursery age it's fun to be running around.

According to this study:

"Mr Tam Fry, honorary chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, said: "Half an hour of physical activity should be a daily event for pre-school children."

They need the exercise to build their strength and dexterity for later in life. Young children have all sorts of falls and bumps without really hurting themselves because they are so flexible and active. This means they can "bounce" or "bend" so that the fall doesn't affect them so much. It's important that we encourage them to continue to be active so that they maintain this later in life.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5409740.stm 

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Comments

1. Re: Children need by BlackGarden, 1428 days ago

   If children aren't exercising, then they aren't playing! When I think of pre-schoolers exercising, I think of them running around happily playing tag, or musical statues, or whatever. The thought that children don't even reach that sort of activity is horrifying.

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2. Re: Children need by jane, 1427 days ago

   I agree with you 100%. It says a lot for how many children are encouraged to watch television and play on computers. Enthusiastically playing with young children is great exercise for adults as well!
   
   Our son runs around with his pushchair, and back and forther moving things from one room to another. He hardly stays still unless he's reading or doing some sort of creative activity.

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   1. Re: Re: Children need by shinningstar, 1426 days ago

      We must have our own physical fitness program at home. If you are a responsible parents, don't forget to spend time for your children. I observed most parents nowadays were very busy with their business. They have a daily hectic schedule. We must change our lifestyle. Time management is needed in this issue. Better thing to do is we must played with our daughters and sons. Jogged with them is best way to remain physically fit and prevent illness. Do you agree that parents are good model at home and children are good imitators?

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3. Re: Children need by ecosrights, 1424 days ago

   I've come across this recently talking about how not only do they need more exercise, but less structured play to encourage their creativity.
   
   They need playtime - not just structured activities with toys that do predefined things, or structured "classes" that they attend. Give them a pile of paper and boxes and see what they come up with - children of all ages will create something, even if it is just a tower or a pile of little bits of paper, they'll find something to do, and it's that imagination that we need to nurture.

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