As a parent, you want to ensure your child is healthy and active. Exercising and staying active are essential for children’s physical and mental development. But with so much time spent indoors, it’s easy to worry about your child getting enough exercise.
Daycare centers can provide the perfect opportunity for physical activity and play. With the right approach, they can see to it that your child is getting the exercise they need to stay healthy and active during their time in daycare.
The Difference Between Kids Who Get Daily Exercise Activities and Those Who Don’t
Studies show that physical activity has a range of benefits for children in the short and long term. These meaningful perks include:
- Kids who get daily exercise activities tend to have better physical health, improved academic performance, and better psychological well-being.
- On the other hand, children who don’t get enough exercise are more likely to struggle with weight issues, lower self-esteem, and have difficulty concentrating in school.
- Regular physical activity has also been linked to improved cardiovascular health, stronger muscles and bones, and better coordination and balance.
- Moreover, adequate exercise is linked to curbing the risk of developing chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
In sum, the benefits of your child getting enough exercise are numerous and can favorably impact a child’s physical, mental, and emotional development. And that’s why parents must encourage their children to be active and participate in physical activities on a daily basis.
Why You Should Insist Your Child Gets Exercise at Daycare
Exercise is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle and is especially important for children. That said, not all daycare facilities provide enough opportunities for physical activity. That means your child might miss out on some benefits of exercise including excellent physical and mental health, improved social and cognitive development, and better overall well-being.
Enough exercise is a key factor in the development of a healthy and happy child. Such a plan can help kids focus better and have more energy, making daycare time more meaningful.
Ask the daycare provider to incorporate more physical activities into the daily routine, such as walks around the block, playground visits, and indoor activities like dancing. You can also check with the facility to see the kind of exercises they have for kids—including a jump rope or hula hoop.
Get Involved, Ensure Your Child is Getting Enough Exercise at Daycare
It’s a known truth; insufficient exercise can lead to an increased risk of health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, among others. It is also clear that daily physical activity is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and should be encouraged in all children.
One way to do this is to get involved. Talk to your daycare provider or staff to understand how much physical activity they provide, how often they provide it, and what form it takes. Ask what activities they do and if they have other ideas or suggestions.
Be sure to also point out activities or games your child enjoys that are appropriate for the daycare setting. Remember, when children play together, they can spur each other on to be more active. Here, ask the daycare provider if they could set up more opportunities for the children to play in pairs or groups.
Finally, make sure your child has access to safe and appropriate outdoor play areas in the daycare setting. By getting involved, you can see to it that your child is getting enough exercise and stays healthy while at daycare.