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Fitness
and Your 6- to 12-year-old
Kids who enjoy sports
and exercise tend to stay active throughout their lives.
And staying fit can help improve your child's self-esteem
and decrease the risk of serious illnesses (such as heart
disease and stroke) later in life.
In addition, regular physical activity at any age can help
your child learn to play and meet challenges. Part of helping
your child commit to fitness may include becoming a positive
role model by regularly exercising on your own or with your
child. Coaching your child's team or cheering from the stands
on game days are other ways you can show your support.
Physical Fitness and Chronic Health Conditions
A child with a chronic health condition or disability should
not be excluded from fitness activities. Some activities
may need to be modified or adapted, and some may be too
risky depending on your child's condition. Consult your
child's doctor about which activities are safe for your
child.
Fitness for My Child
As children develop, so do their abilities to participate
in a variety of sporting activities. Kids in this age group
have the ability to learn new skills required for both team
and individual sports quickly.
Even children who prefer not to participate in organized
team sports need regular exercise. Any number of noncompetitive
sports, such as swimming, ice- skating, gymnastics, and
dance, can help keep your child healthy and fit.
At about age 11, your child may also be interested in learning
how to strength train (under supervision) to build muscle
and help prevent sports injuries.
I'm Concerned About My Child's Fitness
If your child refuses to play or interact with peers, it
can be an indication of a physical or psychological problem.
If your child complains of pain or consistently refuses
to join other children in sports or exercise, contact your
child's doctor.
Once kids begin to participate in sports, injuries may occur
from the overuse of certain muscles or because your child's
skeletal and muscular systems are not yet fully developed.
These growing muscles, ligaments, and tendons are vulnerable
to injury.
During puberty, kids experience a growth spurt when bones
grow more quickly than muscles and tendons, making muscles
and tendons short, tight, and prone to injury. In addition,
kids going through puberty may also become less coordinated
as they adjust to their physical changes, which can increase
the risk of injury. Although many injuries will respond
to RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation), if your
child is in severe pain or the injury doesn't seem to be
getting any better, contact your child's doctor. Appropriate
warm-ups and stretching exercises can help decrease the
chance of muscle and tendon injury.
Young athletes, particularly those involved in gymnastics,
wrestling, or dance, may develop eating disorders. If your
child refuses to eat certain food groups (such as fats),
becomes overly concerned with body image, or experiences
a sudden change in weight, talk to your child about your
concerns. If your child doesn't respond to your discussion,
consult your child's doctor. Early intervention is vital.
Family Fitness Tips
Walking, bike riding, camping, and hiking provide opportunities
for fitness and fun for the entire family. Sports such as
tennis, skiing, dancing, ice-skating, and hiking can offer
your child a chance to build skills in sports that can provide
pleasure and fitness for a lifetime.
Article Source: KidsHealth.org
Article Author: N/A
Net Reference 50
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