Children And Exercise

2574 Words6 Pages

In our society today one of the most difficult problems we are facing is the large numbers of obesity in our children. One of the major factors in that is this; our children have become less physically active. At an early age children start watching TV, learn how to operate a computer, and play video games. Having technological skills is now a necessity in all of our lives because everything has turned “computerized,” but the fact is that our children are relying on these types of entertainment rather than getting up and physically exercising to entertain them selves. This directly affects the large number of obese children in our country today because of the lack of physical exercise. It is not that we want our kids to look a certain way or to be better at sports than everyone else, but it is that we want our kids to be physically fit and to develop a healthy lifestyle. Physical exercise is not only for adults, it is for children as well, so we must understand the importance of our children exercising and the benefits from it. By doing that it will make an impact on that child for the rest of his/her life. The reason we should be hesitant to allow our children to watch TV or play video games is that once a child does that, then he/she starts to enjoy it and wants to do it more and more. It becomes an event that they look forward to doing. Whether it is anxiously waiting on a certain TV show to come on, or hurrying in the house to get to their favorite video game. Children have become obsessed with these types of entertainment and have completely forgot about physical activities. Children do not look forward to getting some friends over to play football in the backyard as much anymore. They look forward to getting friends over to go inside and play a video game while eating chips and drinking cokes. Not only are they eating wrong foods, but also they are cutting out the physical activities to burn those calories off. Granted children should have restrictions on the types of food they eat, I am not taking anything away from that fact. But if a child is at least exercising then he/she will burn off a lot of those calories consumed in those unhealthy foods. So one question to ask is this; why are children becoming more dependent on technology rather than physical activity? &nbs... ... middle of paper ... ...verything you and your child need to know about sports, Physical activity, and good health - a doctor’s guide for parents an coaches. New York: Newmarket Press. Kalish, Susan. (1996). Your Child’s Fitness: Practical advice for parents. Champaigne: Human Kinetics. Hinson, Curt. (1995). Fitness for Children. Champaign: Human Kinetics. Gabbard, C., LeBlanc, B., & Lowy, S. (1994). Physical Education for Children: Building the Foundation, 2nd edition. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, inc. American Heart Association. Exercise (Physical Activity) and Children. April 4th, 2005 < http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4596 > Diagnose-Me. Problems associated with lack of exercise. March 27th, 2005. April 4th, 2005. < http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C380381.html >. IDEA Fitness Journal. Exercise Decreases Risk of Depression in Kids. October 2004. April 4th, 2005. < http://pdfserve.galegroup.com/pdfserve/get_item/1/Scdbf1ew6 _1/SB806_01.pdf >.

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