AllForKids Brochure
AllForKids Overview
Resources
Encourage your child to be physically active?
Dr. M. Vijayalakshmi, M.D (Peds), M.D (USA), F.A.A.P
"Content Source: American Academy of Pediatrics."
Did you Know?
- Children on average spend nearly 3 hours a day watching TV
- Very few children and teens, aged 12 to 21 regularly exercise
- Physical education is rarely mandated to be offered in schools
- More than 15% of all school children are considered overweight
- Overweight teens have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults
- 85% of children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are either overweight or obese
- Sleep apnea occurs in approximately 7% of the children who are obese
Get the entire family moving
With the participation in all types of physical activity declining dramatically as a child's age and grade in school increases, it is important that physical activity be a part of regular family life. Studies have shown than lifestyles learned as children are much more likely to stay with a person into adulthood. If sports and physical activities are a family priority, they will provide children and parents with a strong foundation for a lifetime of health.
Benefits to the body
- Builds and maintains healthy bones, joints and muscles
- Controls weight and body fat
- Improves appearance
- Increases muscle strength, endurance and flexibility
- Improves ability to fall asleep quickly and sleep well
- Reduce risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease later in life
- Builds and improves athletic skills
Mental Benefits
- Increases enthusiasm and optimism
- Organized sports foster team work and friendship
- Boosts self-esteem
- Reduced anxiety, tension and depression
Getting Started...
Parents can play a key role in helping their child become physically active.
- Talk to your pediatrician: Your pediatrician can help your child understand why physical activity is important. Your pediatrician also can suggest a sport or activity that is best for your child.
- Find a fun activity: Help your child find a sport that she/he enjoys. The more they enjoy the activity, the more likely it is that she will continue. Get the entire family involved. It is a great way to spend time together.
- Choose an activity that is developmentally appropriate: For example, a 7 or 8 year old-child is not ready for weight lifting or a 5-KM run, but football (soccer), bicycle riding and swimming are all appropriate activities.
- Plan ahead: Make sure your child has a convenient time and place to exercise
- Provide a safe environment: Make sure your child's clothing is comfortable and appropriate.
- Provide active toys: Young children especially need easy access to balls, skipping ropes, and other active toys
- Be a model for your child: Children who regularly see their parents enjoying sports and physical activity are more likely to do so themselves
- Play with your child: Help her learn a new sport
- Turn off the TV: Limit television watching and computer use. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 1 to 2 hours of total screen time, including TV, videos, computers and video games, each day. Use the free time for more physical activities.
- Make time for exercise: Some children are so overscheduled with homework, music lessons and other planned activities that they do not have time for exercise.
- Work around the weather: In Kerala the weather, rains and heat, can interfere with your exercise schedules. Try to find practical alternatives if that happens.
- Do not overdo it: When your child is ready to start remember to tell her to listen to your body. Exercise and physical activity should not hurt. If this occurs , your child's weight drops below and average acceptable level, or if exercise starts to interfere with school or other activities, talk with your pediatrician.
RSS Feed