Exercise: Any Age is a Good Age
“When
we were kids, I remember my mother chasing us out of the house telling us to
play outdoors in minus 20 degree weather saying the fresh cold air would do
us some good. She didn’t want us staying indoors even if it was blowing
snow outside.”
This comment came from a Canadian who grew up in one of the coldest parts of
Canada – Quebec – where temperatures could go down to minus 30 and 40 during
the peak winter months. Indeed, his outdoor activities during his growing
up years reflect his tip-top shape and robust health. Today he’s 70 and
still bikes and skis in temperatures that we ordinary mortals would rather
shun in favor of a good book with our feet curled up near the fireplace.
The idea of being physically active begins in the embryonic stages. Okay,
perhaps that’s an exaggeration as we know very well know that a fetus can’t
possibly exercise inside a woman’s womb. But as soon as youngsters can walk
and run and jump all over the sofa and the rest of the furniture, they
should be encouraged to channel energies elsewhere – like in sports and
exercises.
Awhile ago, the Bush administration expressed serious concerns about America
being a country of obese adults and children. If obesity can hit kids, then
there is no reason why exercise should not be incorporated into their
lifestyle as soon as they reach age 2. Schools have a responsibility to
develop a keen awareness among school children about the need to engage in
exercise. Too many kids, buoyed and spoiled by internet and mobile phone
technologies, have become “closet skeletons” in the sense that interest in
the traditional ways of spending the growing up years outdoors has waned
significantly. Not enough time to watch the video games and the
entertainment packages they’ve downloaded.
Not enough time, therefore, to squeeze in a badminton or tennis game with
the kids in the neighborhood.
Fighting the fat battle is most effective when the fighting begins early.
As the American Academy of Pediatrics reports, increasing daily physical
activity from infancy through the teen years helps keep the fat at bay.
Teachers are encouraged to ask young students to get sufficient amounts of
exercise and fresh air to help them in their academic tasks. The Academy
further recommends that children under age 2 must not be allowed to watch
television for more than two hours a day.
A
child’s peak growth begins at a very young age and continues until his
mid-20s. This is one reason why schools must incorporate daily exercise
programs from prep-school to high-school into their curricula, calling for
the participation of all school children, including those who are disabled.
This is the time when bones and muscles begin to develop, and healthy
muscles and bones are important for optimal health. Children who are obese
or close to being obese must be pushed to engage in certain sports –
swimming and strength training are only two examples.
Still not convinced that even young children need to exercise? Just read
what the government reported about how many American children are
overweight: one-third! Of that number, 17% are obese.
Families, schools and peer groups can play a significant role in helping
their youngsters appreciate the value of a good exercise program. Not only
will their physical health benefit, but also their sense of team spirit and
the mental discipline required to meet the rigorous challenges of a
particular sport. And the sooner we start these kids in these healthy
habits, the better it will be for the nation as a whole.
There
are of course kids who detest any kind of sport. Don’t despair as there’s
hope even for these children. Take them out into the street or in a park
somewhere and tell them to start walking. Give them a small reward if they
add a few feet daily to their usual distance until they get accustomed to
this practice.
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