The Importance of Exercise for Children
It is that time of year! Summer time is finally here and the kids are out of school…now what? With childhood obesity and Type II diabetes on the rise, it is more important than ever to keep children active and teach them about making healthy eating habits – summer is a great time to get them up and active. According to the USDA the activity recommendations for children are at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week (Lee, 2006). That may sound like a lot, especially with our busy and hectic schedules, but it is only 4% of our day!
Children start developing habits when they are young and learn through imitation of parents, family, and adults. It is important for us to set a good example and create active, healthy habits for kids to follow; it is good for children to see their parents being physically active. It is even better to include the kids in the activities – spending time at local parks, going on walks/runs/bike rides, and visiting splash parks and pools are all nice ways to enjoy the summer season (if it stops raining in Manhattan!).
There are many local activities available in Manhattan that are fun and appropriate for children, including a variety of sports and sports camps scheduled throughout summer. Below are links for activities and parks available in Manhattan that could keep the kids entertained all summer long!
Activities: http://cityofmhk.com/2355/Activities-Classes-SportsParks: http://cityofmhk.com/289/Parks-Park-FacilitiesLee, S. Youth Physical Activity Recommendations. (2006) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GAPhoto: https://primarychildrens.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/get-outside-be-active.jpg Mathis Physical Therapy and Hand Center785.539.9669www.mathispt.comhttps://www.facebook.com/MathisPTTwitter: @Mathis_PT