You may acknowledge the importance of a good diet for your child but the development of modern technology is causing ever more parents to overlook the critical role of physical activity in their child’s life and children are suffering as a result.

 

Physical activity is a crucial element for promoting healthy growth and development in your child and as a result of children imitating their parents’ behaviour it is up to you to set the example.  A manner of encouraging this is by engaging in activities as a family.  Swimming, cycling along the beachfront and playing games are all perfect examples of simple and fun ways in which the family can be brought together and be active simultaneously.  Encouraging your children to participate in sport and acknowledging their achievements is also crucial to encouraging activity.



Children should preferably start engaging in sports from an early age as the foundation for more complex physical activities later on in life is laid between the ages of 4 and 6.  Doing sport on a regular basis has further been proven to have a positive effect on children’s learning ability, memory and problem solving, as well as contributing to increasing children’s creativity and improving their behavior.  According to the American Heart Association, all children aged 2 and up should participate in a minimum of half an hour of enjoyable, moderate intensity daily exercise such as walking, swimming or cycling.  It is also recommended that the same age group of children should do at least half an hour of vigorous physical exercise 3 to 4 times weekly "to achieve and maintain a good level of cardiovascular fitness."

Below are some fun ways for your child to be active as well as a list of children’s sports clubs.  For information dedicated specifically to children’s sporting events clink on the link to visit our Facebook page: