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Benefits of Physical Exercise for Youth
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Recommended: Benefits of Physical Exercise for Youth
Introduction
The average school year for students in grades K-12 consists of 180 days, with an average of 7 hours per day. Seven hours per day multiplied by 180 days per school year totals to 1,260 hours per school year. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) recommends that children and adolescents spend 60 minutes per day engaging in physical activity that are muscle and bone strengthening (The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, AAHPERD, 2013). From the 1,260 hours that a child spends in their school setting, 180 of these hours are recommended for engagement in physical activity. Since outside of the home a child spends majority of their time in school, teachers and administrators are fundamental people in the child’s life. They provide the knowledge that will effect the future decisions of the children. For this reason, they are responsible for setting examples, outside of the home, as to what is expected of the child.
Physical activity is essential in developing an overall healthy life for everyone, including school-aged children. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, physical activity is a determinant to building and maintaining healthy bones and muscles, while also improving social and mental health status of the child. The prevalence of childhood obesity is on the rise and daily physical activity in children has been proven to be effective in preventing childhood obesity and reducing the risks factors. Research evidence also indicates that physical activity can improve academic achievements in grades and standardized test scores.
Psychological research suggests that role modeling has an immense impact on the behavior of children. Since teache...
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...s reason, it is very important to advocate healthy lifestyles that will continue as they the child matures.
Activities such as brisk walking, jogging and jumping rope are already included in recess time. But, recess does not provide enough time to fulfill the 60 minutes recommended by the USDHHS. In order to complete the 60 minutes, several other intervals during the school day is necessary to promote physical activity. Adding activities during transitions between projects and coursework is another method to include physical activity during the school day. Since children usually begin to feel tired as the day progress, physical activities that increase heart rate during different intervals of the day will improve muscle and bone strength. As a result, excess fat will not accumulate and cause weight gain. Instead, daily physical activity will help to maintain weight.
It helps babies and young children improve their balance and flexibility, improve their bone strength, heart and lung capacity. Regular physical activity and exercise and engagements is very important for a healthy brain development in babies and young children. Physical activity and movement can help stimulate the brain growth and facilitate key connections for learning. Babies would develop muscle tone over time so they could begin to crawl. Exercise and physical activity improves babies and young children’s coordination, catching and throwing skills, enjoyment, motivation and social skills. It increases energy boosts and helps stop stress and anxiety which affects positively on self esteem. Activities such as: a climbing frame, balls to roll/throw, moving to music are good to help children’s physical development. In my setting there are many activities that are planned to increase opportunities for children to improve their physical
Exercise, food, technology, and money all play a role in causing childhood obesity. Lack of exercise among adolescents has been proven to be the leading cause of childhood obesity. According to a May 2012 Institute of Medicine report, only half of America’s children and one in four teens get enough activity to meet current guidelines (Doheny and Noonman 1). The recommendations call for children to participate in at least 60 minutes of vigorous to moderate physical activity every day (Hendrick 1). “Only four percent of elementary schools, eight percent of middle schools, and two percent of high schools provide daily physical ...
Physical activity helps boost cognitive abilities in children. Recess generally involves a lot of running, playing, and games involving exercise. In fact, recent research has found a direct correlation between intelligence and physical fitness, especially in children under 16 years old and elderly persons (Pica 64). In a study conducted by F. L. Martens, academic scores, attitudes, and fitness were improved when a third of the school day was dedicated to recess. Another study study found that at least five hours of physical activity resulted in substantially higher academic achievement in the core subjects (Pica 63).
These activities provide students with adequate physical fitness especially during the season of their activity. Therefore, adding forty-five minutes to an hour and a half of extra physical exercise is not necessary because those students are already physically fit. Active students usually have hours of practices and rehearsals everyday, taking away time they could use to work on homework, or use as relax time. If students are forced to do even more physical exercise during the school day, it tires them further and simply exhausts them. According to Arthur Allen of Webmd, thirty minutes of exercise a day is enough to prevent diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Whitman, Nate. "Physical Activity in Schools Is Essential to Reversing Childhood Obesity." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 03 Oct. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
More and more kids would prefer to stay inside glued to a screen then going and playing outside. Sports are a great way to motivate kids to get outside and have fun without using technology. Staying inside all the time can lead to many serious health issues and affect their ability to be able to socialize with their peers. Obesity in children is a huge problem is a huge problem in the USA. Getting outside and active can help change the alarming data “from 2015-2016 show that nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people (6 to 19 years) in the United States has obesity.
Physical activity enhances children’s quantitative development within middle childhood, supporting growth toward healthy strong people, physically and psychology. Middle childhood is documented as being between the ages of six to ten years old. A lack of physical activity affects children across all areas of development; it is not restricted within the domain of physical development. Discussed within are the expectations of motor development within middle childhood, the benefits of physical activity and the consequences of prolonged inactivity. Along with how a student’s physical development facilitates or restricts development in other areas and how the learning environment can accommodate and support the physical needs of students.
Busy school schedules and overloading classes allow little time for the sixty minute daily suggested the physical activity for students. What place could be deemed as a more quintessential place to implement this required physical activity quota than a school? Most education institutions harbor the proper equipment and accommodations needed to support students and the activities concerned. If Physical Fitness is not made a compulsory subject then many students will not gain the beneficial assets this curriculum can provide.
Obesity is a common problem in teens, consequently, one third of the high school students in the United States are overweight or obese. School sports, would eliminate obesity in children. Pediatrician, Dr. Drake, says "Kids should get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day, but many fall short of this," (New York Times "Sports seen as a key weapon in fighting obesity). No doubt, school sports allow everyone to get the 60 minutes of recommended physical activity each day, to maintain a healthy lifestyle; and students who participate in sports now are more likely to continue to work out when they grow up. Additionally, athletes also improve flexibility, endurance, strength, and
Childhood obesity is a health problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent in society’s youth. For a number of years, children across the nation have become accustomed to occasionally participating in physical activities and regularly snacking on sugary treats. In result of these tendencies, approximately one third of American children are currently overweight or obese (Goodwin). These grim statistics effectively represent all the lack of adult interference, in regards to health, has done to the youth of America. The habits of over consuming foods and under participating in physical activities are all too common in the children of today. Children cannot solve this issue alone, though. These young people need to essentially be given the opportunities to make positive health decisions and learn about good, nutritional values.
Physical education in schools improves children’s physical health. Getting the recommended amount of exercise can combat obesity. “Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions” (CDC.gov). PHIT America states,
Physical education provides: 1) a variation of motor skills aimed to enhance the physical, mental, social and emotional development, 2) an understanding to improve and maintain their physical well-being and 3) opportunities to develop social and cooperative skills while gaining a multi-cultural perspective. Physical education provides a variety of motor skills aimed at enhancing the physical, mental, social and emotional development. The obesity statistics of 2009 quantified that childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980 and in addition to concerns regarding chronic diseases, overweight and obesity incidences have even led to poorer levels of academic achievement (Taras & Potts-Datema, 2005). Additionally, in order to teach students the importance of preventing these ailments, those who oppose the amount of time spent in physical education or want to cut it out altogether should reconsider. Instead, time in physical education should be as equal as core subjects are seen.
Some activity clubs we provide include, dancing, running, jump roping, basketball and soccer clubs, just to name a few. These clubs encourage kids to stay active. Our PE program also sends out monthly newsletters to the parents that give them ways to help their child live a healthy lifestyle. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education states, “Regular physical activity improves functional status and limits disability during the middle and later adult years. Physical activity contributes to quality of life, psychological health, and the ability to meet physical work demands. Physical education can serve as a vehicle for helping students to develop the knowledge, attitudes, motor skills, behavioral skills, and confidence needed to adopt and maintain physically active lifestyles. The outcomes of a quality physical education program include the development of students’ physical competence, health-related fitness, self-esteem, and overall enjoyment of physical activity. These outcomes enable students to make informed decisions and choices about leading a physically active lifestyle. In early years children derive pleasure from movement sensations and experience challenge and joy as they sense a growing competence in their movement ability. Evidence suggests that the level of participation, the degree of skill, and the number of activities mastered as a child directly influences the extent to which children will continue to participate in physical activity as an
”Role models are highly important for us psychologically, helping to guide us through life during our development, to make important decisions that affect the outcome of our lives, and to help us find happiness in later life”(Thomas). Thomas advises people on how important role modeling is and how it can help adolescents find happiness in later life. “First, the use of role modeling as a teaching method in secondary education is assessed. Second, adolescents role models and their moral qualities are identified”(Sanderse). Sanderse implies that the moral qualities are identified as well as their role models.
“Children who exercise regularly have higher levels of self-esteem.” (Brown, W.J. & Brown P.R., 1996, p19). Teaching Physical Education can have immediate health benefits as it helps normalise body weight and body composition. Physical activity also promotes positive mental health. Both immediate outcomes may be useful in motivating physical activity practices so that they have long term benefits. One of the main benefits of physical activity is that “it keeps children involved and that it invariably makes you feel good.” (Brown, W.J. & Brown P.R., 1996, p19). Getting the correct amount of Physical activity in school hours will decrease the rates of obesity and will reduce the risk of diabetes, asthma, heart disease and other health related illness’. Regular exercise for children also helps their cardiovascular health and bone development. There is also evidence that Physical Activity has a positive effect on mental health in children, including reducing anxiety and depression and improving their mood. However, there is some evidence that for children who don’t enjoy Physical Education it can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and