Kids these days are not as active as we were in our childhood. They don’t play as much as we did and would instead rather watch Netflix and You Tube, play games on the Play Station or be on their phones all day, every day. The restrictions during the first hard lockdown made things even worse because no one could walk and jog and children couldn’t join their parents while exercising. Research from McMaster University found that physical activity in early childhood may have an impact on cardiovascular health later in life. Nicole Proudfoot, a graduate student in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University and lead author on the study says, “Many of us tend to think cardiovascular disease hits in older age, but arteries begin to stiffen when we are very young.” This is why exercise is important for children.
What the study says
Although cardiovascular diseases hit in older age, arteries begin to stiffen when we are very young. Scientists followed the activity levels of hundreds of pre-schoolers over a period of years and found that physical activity in children as young as three years old benefits blood vessel health, cardiovascular fitness and is key to the prevention of early risk indicators that can lead to adult heart disease. “It’s important to start any kind of preventative measures early. We need to ensure small children have many opportunities to be active to keep their hearts and blood vessels as healthy as possible,” she says.
Children need energetic play time
While the findings showed total physical activity had favourable effects on cardiovascular health, more intense physical activity was more beneficial meaning that intensity matters. Brian Timmons, an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster and the Canada Research Chair in Child Health & Exercise Medicine emphasises that, “children benefit the most from energetic play and playing games such as tag.” He suggests that the physical activity does not have to happen all at once and that children should be active on and off throughout the day.
Play to exercise
Play is the best time for kids to exercise. When children play, they exercise their bodies for physical strength, fluidity of movement, balance and coordination. You can encourage them to jump or skip or play hop scotch.
Let them tag along
When you go out to exercise, make it a family affair. The government recently allowed that people can do certain exercises in parks, which gives you an opportunity to take them out for a stretch. Just don’t forget your mask when you go out there.
