Get Physical
Daily physical activity is very important for every child
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Is your child getting enough physical activity
on a daily basis?
Children age five and under need at least two hours or more of physical active play each day. (Ophea, 2010) This type of active play should include an activity that makes your child huff and puff. You want the heart rate up and the blood flowing. The more children are actively moving the more nutrition is going to their brain and body. Active movement fosters physical, social and cognitive development.
Are you thinking 'when do I have the time for two hours every day'?
The physical activities your child can partake in can be spread out throughout the day. These activities can include recreational activities, active playtime like going to the park and active transportation like walking to and from school (Ophea, 2010).
Children age five and under need at least two hours or more of physical active play each day. (Ophea, 2010) This type of active play should include an activity that makes your child huff and puff. You want the heart rate up and the blood flowing. The more children are actively moving the more nutrition is going to their brain and body. Active movement fosters physical, social and cognitive development.
Are you thinking 'when do I have the time for two hours every day'?
The physical activities your child can partake in can be spread out throughout the day. These activities can include recreational activities, active playtime like going to the park and active transportation like walking to and from school (Ophea, 2010).
“Children under the age of five actually require plenty of active play for
healthy physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.”
(Ophea, 2010)
healthy physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.”
(Ophea, 2010)
Why is daily physical activity important for your child?
Physical development is important for your child for two reasons:
(1) Physical activity is directly linked to improved
academic performance.
Daily exercise benefits memory, learning and cognitive abilities. Studies have shown that children who participate in daily physical active play throughout their day have had improvements in academic performance. (Sattelar & Ratey, 2009).
How can physical activity help academic performance?
When children are physically active it causes “physiological stress to the brain… [which] promotes adaptation and growth, preserves brain function and enables the brain to respond to future challenges” (Mattson, 2004; as cited in Sattelar & Ratey, 2009, p. 366). In other words, when children are active, positive stress to the brain causes the brain to adapt, which in turn helps in future academic work and cognitive growth. Participating in physical activity is like stretching before a big race. When children are physically active they are stretching and starting up their brain for intellectual activity. When their brains are warmed up, new information is more easily learned.
Daily exercise benefits memory, learning and cognitive abilities. Studies have shown that children who participate in daily physical active play throughout their day have had improvements in academic performance. (Sattelar & Ratey, 2009).
How can physical activity help academic performance?
When children are physically active it causes “physiological stress to the brain… [which] promotes adaptation and growth, preserves brain function and enables the brain to respond to future challenges” (Mattson, 2004; as cited in Sattelar & Ratey, 2009, p. 366). In other words, when children are active, positive stress to the brain causes the brain to adapt, which in turn helps in future academic work and cognitive growth. Participating in physical activity is like stretching before a big race. When children are physically active they are stretching and starting up their brain for intellectual activity. When their brains are warmed up, new information is more easily learned.
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(2) A healthy diet and lifestyle along with physical activity
promotes positive benefits in physical, psychological and social development.
Keeping children active assists in the physical development of:
Keeping children active assists in the physical development of:
- “healthy bones, muscles and joints
- a healthy heart and lungs
- coordination and movement control
- maintain a healthy body weight" (AHA, 2013)
- "reduces blood pressure
- reduces the risk of diabetes and some kinds of cancer" (WHO, 2012)
- "help control anxiety
- help control depression
- improve self-esteem
- help children gain more self-control" (WHO, 2013)
What am I going to do to add physical activity in the classroom?
Just participating in gym twice a
week is not enough. Thus, every morning the children will start off their day
with five minutes of physical exercise. This will prepare them for the day and
give them the bolt of energy needed for the daily program. As well, I will
incorporate different forms a physical movement throughout the day. For
example, when the children are transitioning from one lesson to another we will
hop on one foot then two feet then the other foot..
When timing permits, I will also try to incorporate an accumulated 30 minutes or more of physical activity per day. These activities include any activity that will get the children up and moving for around five minutes. I will try to change the activities throughout the day to keep the children interested, however the children will have their favourites.
Some active games the children love are:
When timing permits, I will also try to incorporate an accumulated 30 minutes or more of physical activity per day. These activities include any activity that will get the children up and moving for around five minutes. I will try to change the activities throughout the day to keep the children interested, however the children will have their favourites.
Some active games the children love are:
- putting on music and dancing
- doing the animal walk which include hopping and running on the spot
- playing fruit salad
- doing the bunny hop
- animals freeze