With all the chips, lollies, chocolates and soft drinks on offer in the school canteen and corner shop, it's now more important than ever for children to exercise on a daily basis. Unfortunately not all schools provide daily fitness activities for students, and many parents forgo signing up their young ones to sporting clubs for different reasons. Sometimes it's financial, at times it's geographical, but many times it's also carelessness or a lack of knowledge.

Children need exercise to stay healthy. They need exercise to grow and become healthy adults and to prevent diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity which can damage their quality of life later on. Keeping active from a young age will provide health into adulthood, and after all, we want what's best for our children.

Exercises boosts brain activity, which aids your children's concentration levels at school. Group sports encourage team work which builds social skills. Cardiovascular activity from a young age keeps the heart healthy and beating. The benefits keep coming and coming.

It is the parents' responsibility to make sure that their child gets adequate exercise, and that doesn't mean telling them to play outside. Children need guidance in the playground in the same way they need with school, and life in general. As a parent, there's a lot you can do.

Sign your children up for a team sport. Being a part of a team will help them make new friends, learn new skills and exercise at the same time. It should be a regular activity, twice a week at least, that fits into their schedule and doesn't interfere with school work. Having this extra set activity in their week will also help develop their organisation skills.

Spend time with your children outside and explain the importance of keeping active. Go for a walk in the park after dinner, go cycling or roller blading, do jumping jacks in the backyard or go swimming in the evening.

Send your child to a school that encourages physical activity and makes it a part of your child's day. Sport should be a compulsory subject and an important part of the curriculum. When baby boomer's went to school, many were required to do physical activity before lessons started, some schools still support this, and your child will only benefit.

There are plenty of ways in which your child can benefit from exercise but one should be enough to convince you to make sure they get their daily dose. Aim to provide them with at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day and you will be building a healthy foundation for the rest of their lives. It's the best gift you can give as a parent.

The key is fun and moderation, your children should exercise every day, be it going for a walk with the dog, riding their bike, playing a team sport or running around the backyard with their friends. Make sure that your children are enjoying themselves and not just exercising for the sake of exercise. A positive attitude towards fitness as children, will remain with them for life.

Learn more about this author, Katarzyna Radzka.
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