by Katarzyna Radzka

Created on: December 02, 2010

Exercise is one of the preventative measures people can take to stay healthy, avoid diseases, improve their immunity and increase their confidence and self-worth. Parents and schools are responsible for the amount of exercise their children do each day while schools often lack physical education classes it’s important that children get adequate exercise after school hours which is organized by their parents. The benefits children will get from exercise reach beyond fitness and a healthy body. Exercise also helps develop the brain, improve self-esteem levels, provide children with variety in their day, allow them to test their physical abilities and discover hidden talents.

Parents should encourage children to exercise after school because it gives them a nice break from school work and homework. Children need this time to use up any excess energy levels, have a bit of fun and simply be children. The type of exercise they do can range from football practice to walking the dog. The point is that they take part in some form of physical activity on a daily basis.

Children who do regular exercise after school are fitter and healthier than their peers who spend their free time playing computer games, watching television or doing nothing at all. Parents shouldn’t underestimate the importance of exercise for children’s physical and mental development. A bit of exercise after school can help prevent obesity and diabetes.

A bit of exercise after school can help children develop good habits. Exercise is something that even adults neglect. If children start exercising regularly at a young age they will be more likely to stick with it as they get older and enter adulthood – especially if they enjoy what they are doing.

It’s sad but true, a lot of schools don’t provide their students with adequate physical activity. Two or three times a week for thirty minutes – which isn’t compulsory – is not enough for children to stay fit and healthy. Children need more physical activity than that, they’ve got a lot more energy that needs to be used up so they can get on with other tasks. By encouraging children to exercise after school parents are allowing their children to have balance in their life. Sport is also something that can help keep children disciplined which means they are less likely to misbehave.

Regardless of their own fitness level, parents should encourage their children to do some exercise after school everyday and a lot more at the weekends. Exercise can mean playing ball in the park, running around the backyard or going for a swim at the beach.  

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