Kids And Exercise

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
(Model: Joshua Vermeulen)

When most adults think about exercise, they imagine working out in the gym, running on a treadmill, or lifting weights.

But for kids, exercise means playing and being physically active. Kids exercise when they have gym class at school, during recess, at dance class or soccer practice, while riding bikes, or when playing tag. However kids also enjoy attending the gym, especially if they can do so with friends or a parent.

The Many Benefits of Exercise
Everyone can benefit from regular exercise. Active kids will have:

Stronger Muscles and Bones
Leaner bodies
Less risk of becoming overweight
A lower chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes
Lower blood pressure & cholesterol levels
A better outlook on life

Besides enjoying the health benefits of regular exercise, fit kids sleep better. They’re also better able to handle physical and emotional challenges — from running to catch a bus to studying for a test.

The Sedentary Problem
Kids and teens are sitting around a lot more than they used to. They spend hours every day in front of a screen (TVs, smartphones, tablets, and other devices) looking at a variety of media (TV shows, videos, movies, games). Too much screen time and not enough physical activity add to the problem of childhood obesity.

One of the best ways to get kids to be more active is to limit the amount of time spent in sedentary activities, especially watching TV or other screens. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents:

Put limits on the time spent using media, which includes TV, social media, and video games. Media should not take the place of getting enough sleep and being active.
Limit screen time to 1 hour a day or less for children 2 to 5 years old.
Discourage any screen time, except video-chatting, for kids younger than 18 months.
Choose high-quality programming and watch it with your kids to help them understand what they’re seeing.
Keep TVs, computers, and video games out of children’s bedrooms.
Turn off screens during mealtimes.

How Much Exercise Is Enough?
Parents should make sure that their kids get enough exercise. So, how much is enough? Kids and teens should get 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily.

Toddlers and preschool children should play actively several times a day. Toddlers should get at least 60 minutes active play every day and preschoolers should have at least 120 minutes active play every day. This time should include planned, adult-led physical activity and unstructured active free play.

Young children should not be inactive for long periods of time — no more than 1 hour unless they’re sleeping. And school-age children should not be inactive for periods longer than 2 hours.

Raising Fit Kids
Combining regular physical activity with a healthy diet is the key to a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some tips for raising fit kids:

Help your kids do in a variety of age-appropriate activities.
Set a regular schedule for physical activity.
Make being active a part of daily life, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
Embrace a healthier lifestyle yourself, so you’ll be a positive role model for your family.
Be active together as a family.
Keep it fun, so your kids will come back for more.