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Health Capsules

Physical activity among kids

Guillaume Trottier

Physical activity among kids

Recently I had a conversation with a good friend, a physical education teacher. The conversation focused on physical activity, specifically the lifestyle of today's youth. Do they move enough? do they spend too much time in front of the screens? The discussion quietly led us to life before new technologies. We told ourselves how physically active we were during our childhood and adolescence. Of course we had nothing to do because we are both from a generation that was not yet a slave to smart phones and tablets. A generation where we had to take our bike, drive to our friend's house, knock on his door and finally ask him if he wanted to play outside with us. It still exists ?! Possibly. But certainly less and less.
The immediate entourage of young people becomes important in order to increase their level of physical activity. Of course, parents play a major role in keeping the balance between technology and physical activity. The key word in this case, dosage!
 
I also wanted to emphasize to this friend of physical education that he too had a key role to play in the development of young people through physical activity. There is a need to increase the attractiveness of the physical education class and it is partly by making the course more attractive and by improving the infrastructure that will be achieved.
The benefits of early physical activity are many, here are a few:
 

Emotional health and socialization

 
Active children and adolescents develop a better self-esteem. They are more confident. Physical activity also helps reduce stress and anxiety symptoms in those who indulge in it. Add to these factors that this is an opportunity for youth to develop their social side and interpersonal skills. Indeed, moving can break the isolation!
 

Academic achievement

 
Sports force us to memorize movement sequences and make good decisions quickly. It is also possible to memorize rules and apply them. The link with the school and the different courses is obvious. In addition, the relaxation and confidence that physical activity provides stimulates the young person's intellectual abilities. Finally, sports involvement develops pride and a sense of belonging to one's school.
 

Fitness

 
Someone active will see his cardiorespiratory and cardiovascular capacity increase. This will always promote the maintenance of a healthy weight. Early and regular physical activity greatly reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes or heart disease.
 
I conclude on this reality that physical activity is essential in the general development and evolution of the child. To develop his motor skills, develop his cognitive sense, for his psychological well-being or to increase his physical abilities, he must move and start early! The sooner the child becomes aware of the importance of playing sports, the more likely they are to see him adopt healthy lifestyle habits in the long term!