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* Find a My Gym for kids near your home now!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
When we think about
fitness for kids, we tend to think about the effect it has on their bodies - increasing agility, decreasing the risk of obesity, and getting them into good habits for later life. But general fitness is also good for the brain - in more ways than you might expect.
Just as health organizations are expressing concern about a general deterioration in children's fitness, so teachers and child psychologists are noting a rise in learning disorders like ADHD. You won't be surprised to hear that there's an increasing amount of evidence to link these two trends. The brain is an organ which needs a large amount of energy in order to function properly.
It requires a steady flow of sugars, but when children eat poorly and fail to exercise, their bodies often fail to regulate sugars properly. This means that the energy supply reaches the brain in fits and starts, so that sometimes the child is yawning and falling asleep in class, and sometimes he or she is too excitable to pay attention.
Being unfit can also affect children on an emotional level, as it interferes with the way the body regulates hormones. A regular exercise program can help a sullen child to overcome mood swings, becoming both happier and more alert. It's important to time exercise carefully to fit in with the natural patterns of a child’s life. Half an hour in the morning before school will make them more alert in class. An hour before the evening meal will improve digestion and aid concentration on evening homework.
If we want to help our children to improve their performance at school and get more out of life intellectually and emotionally, fitness for kids has to be top priority. Fitness isn't just for the body - it's for every aspect of life.
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