How Getting Exercise Is Beneficial for Kids Growth?


No – not in a strenuous gym routine or running for miles. Before you start to panic, nobody thinks children should spend a sweaty hour on a treadmill or lifting some sort of baby weights. When an adult thinks of exercise, often, what comes to mind is the dreadful strenuous hours at the gym. Fortunately, exercise for kids is way less taxing and is quite fun for them.

For kids, exercise is as simple as physical activity like playing, riding a bike, a dance class, riding a horse, soccer practice, or even playing tag. So you’d assume that most kids exercise, right?

Much as being active is fun for kids; there are many distractions in the modern world stopping kids from having enough activity level—for instance, television and video games. Without channelling energy to programs and games that get your kid to exercise, it’s very easy for them to fail to meet the recommended minimum amount of exercise.

The following are the top 12 reasons why exercise is beneficial for kids.

  1. Strengthens their heart: The heart is a muscle; like all other muscles, and the best way to improve its performance is by regularly challenging it through exercise. The more your kid exercises, the more their heart grows stronger and more efficient.
  2. Strengthens their lungs: Kids’ bodies are still developing; physical activity increases their lung capacity by increasing their efficiency in circulating air in and out of the body. In addition, the regularity of exercise prevents a decline in oxygen intake that occurs as a result of a sedentary lifestyle in kids.
  3. Strengthens their bones: Muscles respond to physical activity by getting stronger. Adults begin to lose their bone mass by their 20s. Physical activity in kids ensures that they reach the peak bone density before they reach the drop-off age. An increased bone density prevents future osteoporosis (a condition that causes the degeneration of bones).
  4. Improves their energy levels: If you don’t want your kid to be the dull one that the teacher constantly worries about, then allow them some exercise in their routine. The more practice they get, the more energetic and active they get: this ensures they don’t tire randomly during the day.
  5. Improves their emotional well-being: This one applies for both you and your kid, so feel inspired too. Exercise leads to the production of beta-endorphin, which in the simplest terms, is a ‘happy hormone.’
  6. Keeps their veins and arteries clear: Exercise lowers the levels of fat and harmful cholesterol in a kid’s body. In addition, physical activity raises the flexibility of the walls of the blood vessels that in turn aids in lowering blood pressure. This also reduces their risk of stroke or heart attack.
  7. Reduces their risk of developing type 2 diabetes: Exercise prevents the blood from having accumulated sugar by triggering the muscles to draw up more glucose from the bloodstream and use it for energy.
  8. Reduces your kid’s chances of becoming overweight: Aside from the judgment that comes with raising an overweight kid, being overweight is highly dangerous for your kid. Overweight kids risk getting high blood pressure, heart disease, or even diabetes. Physical activity creates a deficit in calories; when accumulated fat is broken down for energy, the weight is lowered.
  9. Increases self-confidence and belief: Kids taking part in programs that help them break that extra sweat often requires them to gain confidence in their abilities; for instance, by signing them up for horse riding. As your kid learns how to command the horse and eventually ride by themselves, they’ll also have learned to have confidence in themselves and their abilities.
  10. Making new friends: Ever wondered why some people have such an easy time making new friends? Many adult behaviours were curated during their formative years. The more a kid participates in playing with kids, new neighbours, friends, relatives, and classmates, the easier it is for them to make new friends.
  11. They get to try out new activities and sports. Before settling for an activity, you might need to shop around with your kid. In the process of getting them an exercise to indulge in, such as a dance class, they might just find their talent early enough.
  12. Teaches the kids the importance of exercise. Don’t you just wish someone had instilled the value of exercise in your mind at a young age so that you wouldn’t have to watch ten motivational trainers to give you the motivation and strength to go for a run? Change the narrative for your child by making them understand and love the benefits of exercise early.
Wrap Up
Our bodies are designed to perform at their peak when indulged in physical activity through exercise. Your kid may appear like they get exercise, but do they really meet the recommended level of physical activity? Time to control their watch time, video games, and time indoors. You’ll probably feel like the ‘bad’ parent for cutting down their screen time but eventually, they and their great health will thank you for it.