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* Find a My Gym for kids near your home now!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Everybody knows that Children's fitness is important, but making sure your kids get the exercise they need can be easier said than done. It's all very well if you live in a good area with good quality local sports facilities, or even a decent sized back yard where they can play with their friends - but what if you live downtown and are uncomfortable about letting them play outside?
What if they have pollen allergies and outdoor play makes them ill? What if you simply don't get the weather for it? Fortunately, there are several indoor activities which can help with fitness for kids, and which can be fun at the same time.
When exercising indoors, staircases are your friend. Even communal stone staircases can help, though in those cases it's a good idea for young children to have an adult present in case they fall. Climbing up and down steps provides light impact exercise which helps to build strong bones, as well as exercising the heart and lungs and strengthening the muscles in the backs of the legs.
The safest way to exercise on staircases is to walk down them and then race upwards, competing with other children or trying to beat a set time. Even slow stair climbing, if undertaken regularly, will improve fitness for kids. This is also a great way to tire them out and keep them from tiring you out when you're trying to get on with the housework.
Jumping and stretching exercises can be performed anywhere, even if you only have a small amount of space. Kids find these more satisfying if they get to perform them in unison with their favorite music, with or without the aid of dance mat technology. They also respond well to challenges - try betting them that they can't manage a certain number of star jumps, and let them try to prove you wrong.
If you have a bit more space, forward and backward rolls are an activity which kids always enjoy. These help to keep joints flexible as well as improving balance. Encourage your kids to combine them with stretches and jumps to create routines. These can easily be built into games.
Fitness for kids doesn't have to be the preserve of those who already enjoy advantages in life. Don't let circumstances deter you from keeping your children healthy, because that's the very best advantage you can give them in life.Labels: activities, childrens, exercise, fitness, fun, gymnasium, kids
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