Get your kids outside
Toolbox
By LINDA FREEMAN Correspondent - Published: June 28, 2009
The trend is shocking. Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic definition. Type 2 diabetes in children is on the rise. Children are spending up to three hours watching television each day and up to five hours on the computer.
As with adults, children need daily exercise and good nutrition.
"In order to live a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle, physical activity should be incorporated into your child's daily activities. Exercise helps our bodies to reach peak performance and is known to reduce health risks like cardiovascular problems. Exercise also aids in building overall strength, bone density, healthy joints and muscles, all while helping to maintain a healthy weight." That is according to the Web site, www.getkidsinaction.org/exercise
As a fitness professional, I acknowledge the conflict between organized exercise (competitive sports programs, conditioning camps, weight training) and unstructured play. A qualified coach or trainer can guide a child through fitness training safely and effectively, but this type of exercise is not appropriate or available for all children.
Let's look at the potential role of play in a child's life.
David Elkind, known to many parents as author of The Hurried Child, has addressed play in his more recent book, The Power of Play. (Da Capo Press, 2008)
In an article written for the Boston Globe, Elkind wrote: "Learning allows us to acquire what is already known: Play gives rise to new knowledge, skills and artistic products … Summer camps devoted to sports, computers or exam preparation are rapidly replacing those that once offered swimming, boating, hiking, campfires and storytelling. Bike riding is down and computer game playing, which purportedly teaches computer skills, is up … The not-so-subtle message here is that play is superfluous; play is for slackers. But this reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of play in human life."
About the same time Elkind published his book, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a clinical report: "The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds" in which play is repeatedly referred to as essential. "Play is so important to optimal child development that it has been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child."
The report states: "Perhaps, above all, play is a simple joy that is a cherished part of childhood."
What is play? Look back into your own childhood for memories and resources. Traditional games like tag, hide and seek, capture the flag and leap frog provide aerobic conditioning, strength, balance and fun. There is no equipment needed and there are no restrictions.
Play is primarily unstructured and is done for the purpose of having a good time. Play is an opportunity for parents to join their children — not to make the rules and direct the activity.
How long has it been since you have jumped rope, twirled a Hula Hoop or played hopscotch or visited a local playground? These are the times that children remember.
Coordination, agility and full-blown, all-out effort are utilized when kids run, jump, roll, tussle, climb and finally flop down in the grass for a breather. Summer offers the perfect opportunity to encourage our children to indulge in as much outdoor play as possible.
Recently I watched visiting family members spend every available minute outside with an inexpensive bat and whiffle ball. Though there was an age span of about 10 years and there were the occasional squabbles, these kids batted, raced for the base, dove, leaped, climbed the fence or trudged back uphill from the ravine when the ball went out of play.
Yesterday I watched three small children at a state park. They were in and out of the water, jumping on and off the floating dock, flying up the steep hill and rolling down, laughing and giggling all the time. Attentive parents helped to keep things neutral, offered occasional encouragement and allowed the children to play freely.
As I looked around the park, I saw small groups of children everywhere, often playing imaginative games that simply fit the moment. That's what play is all about.
Various forms of play are suitable for children as they develop. Most resources suggest that 60 minutes of exercise a day are required, though more is certainly better. The Web sties www.getkidsinaction.com and www.kidshealth.org provide simple ideas of age-appropriate exercise and play.
"Play is a cherished part of childhood that offers children important developmental benefits and parents the opportunity to fully engage with their children," according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The bottom line is this: encourage kids to get away from the TV/computer and outside. Healthy habits begun now will carry over into adulthood. Share the benefits and play along with your kids.
(Linda Freeman is a certified personal trainer and director of personal training and group exercise at First in Fitness in Berlin and Montpelier.)
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