Slice Of Life Blog 

Why exercise if beneficial for children?

 

 

                                   

There are many aspects of fitness that benefit children including their physical and mental wellbeing. Not only does physical activity strengthen children's muscles and bones, but it can also help prevent excessive weight gain and reduce the risk of diabetes cancer and other conditions. A happy child is a physically active child.

Physical activity for children can help keep their bodies strong and healthy as well as improving their mental health by reducing any symptoms of depression, anxiety, loneliness and pain. Exercising can also help children to improve their focus, school performance and sleep and energy levels.

 

Physical health benefits from exercising:

Children can develop fundamental movement skills from regular physical activity. As well as helping to maintain healthy body weight, regular physical activity for children can aid healthy bones, muscles, heart and lungs. In addition to maintaining healthy body weight.  

 

Brain function benefits of physical activity:

Exercise and physical activity are important for developing the brain and supporting essential mental functions. Exercising can lead to improved motor skills, for example, hand-eye coordination, improved thinking and problem solving, better attention skills. All of these benefits combined result in better school performance for your child too.

 

Benefits for emotional and mental health:

Physical activity can improve the mental well-being of a child greatly because the 'feel-good hormones endorphins are realised by the brain during exercise. Which improves mood and sleep and increases energy levels. Exercise can break the cycle which children with anxiety experience because they are instead focussing on the demands of physical activity, whilst learning new skills and feeling a sense of achievement. 

 

Taking part in a sport can relieve some social pressure and can benefit children who may feel like they are unable to make friends or lonely. Exercise can also improve children’s body image including their self-esteem, self-worth and their self-confidence. Because once your child starts to enjoy being active then they are more likely to appreciate what their body can do, rather than judging how they look so physical activity is a great way of building your child's self-esteem and positive body image.

 

Here are just a few more benefits of exercise for children:

  • Strengthens bones and muscles

  • Learning new skills

  • Helps increase self-confidence and belief

  • Less likely to be overweight 

  • Sociable activities helping your child to make new friends 

  • Children who exercise will have a better outlook on life

  • Strengthens bones and muscles

 

Children should be doing exercise which they will find fun, and if they are taking part in an activity which is fun and enjoyable for them then they are more likely to want to take part again.

At Slice of Life gym, we offer several fitness sessions for children in a week. Groove On (Age 5-10)  is our funky dance fitness session and KidzFit (Age 7-11) allows children to have fun in the gym with circuit workouts guided by one of our personal trainers. Children 12+ can take part in more activities if suitably supervised.  If you would like some more information on how to involve your children in our kids' sessions then please ring us on 01233 879389,  email us at info@slice-of-life.co.uk or visit our website www.slice-of-life.co.uk.