Monkey Business Images/Getty Images
I was never a big sports kid. Neither of my parents were athletic, and if they thought I was staying healthy at school, they were wrong. In retrospect, this was a big mistake, because we’re increasingly finding that physical activity is incredibly important for children’s cognitive and physical development, setting them on a healthy trajectory for the future.
So what should I do for my children? They are 5 and 7 years old. UK Physical Health Guidelines People between the ages of 5 and 18 should average 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day, which means some activity that makes you a little hot and sweaty (like playground games or a brisk walk). US guidelines similar.
While an hour a day may seem like a lot, keep in mind that children tend to exercise intensely and in short bursts. Las Jago When you add up the time kids spend running around in school yards and at after-school sports clubs, according to a study from the University of Bristol in the UK, it starts to seem possible. Thankfully, the guidelines emphasize 60 minutes a day on average. Some days you’ll be more active, others less, and that’s OK.
Still, I don’t really know what my kids are doing at school, so I’m wondering if they…
Source: www.newscientist.com
