Babies and young children have a one-way ticket to good health and well being if they are fed good nutritious food, have plenty of exercise and fresh are and are interactive with other people.
As children�s fitness leader I am constantly asked questions about children�s health and fitness and it seems that many parents and carers are unaware of the developmental process that a child goes through and the necessary requirements for this to progress at the optimum level. As a country we despair at what�s happening around the world, particularly to the children in need, I can honestly say that many children in Torbay and South Devon could be identified as �in need� even though they are not living in any particular poverty or dreadful situation. Children that are fed too much processed food and don�t take enough exercise are heading for problems in their teens and adult life. I would therefore like to highlight some basic facts that many parents and carers may possibly be unaware of
� Children need to be active for the very minimum of 1 hour a day- this means running, jumping and climbing anything that is vigorous and leaves them slightly out of breath. Children�s energy systems are designed to give continuous short bursts of energy and in this way could go on for hours!!
� Neurological development is stimulated by movement- children learn from discovering their natural environment by moving around it, becoming aware of course and effect, ability to judge situations, co ordination, balance and body control. These things cannot be learnt from watching TV or indeed the latest educational toys and activity centres sold to us by toyshops.
� The bone strengthening process known as Ossification is usually complete by the age of 18-20 years. This means the time frame to develop a strong supportive skeleton is quite small. Bone density is improved by activity; weight bearing and high impact movements such as running and jumping therefore if the bones do not develop properly in childhood many serious problems can develop in adulthood.
� Fresh air and deep breathing. Our lungs have a huge capacity to support us in heavy breathing they are designed to sustain aerobic exercise. Using the lungs in this way clears them and brings clean fresh air deep into them, many children are presenting breathing conditions these days from allergies to various substances including processed food and cigarette smoke. Again moderate regular exercise can have a profound affect on these conditions.
� Once the body has produced a fat cell it is resident for life. Fat cells can be shrunk down as weight is lost but they never disappear therefore if a child develops too many fat cells they will be predisposed to put on weight easily for the rest of their life.
Active children that are not given junk, snack foods between meals are more likely to want to eat good healthy nutritious food.
So get them active, feed them well and watch them grow!