More Reasons to Keep our Children Engage in Physical Activities

September 14, 2012

It is widely acknowledged that physical activity is essential to children’s growth and development. Regular physical activity can have a positive impact on students’ physical, mental, and social well-being. In particular, physical activity is likely to have an impact on students’ achievement, readiness to learn, behaviour, and self-esteem. Positive experiences with physical activity at a young age also help lay the foundation for healthy, productive lives. Research also indicates that children are in danger of developing serious diseases associated with obesity, which can result from a lack of physical activity. The following are examples taken from the research on this subject:

“Studies demonstrate the positive effects daily physical activity has on student performance and academic achievement in terms of memory, observation, problem-solving and decision-making, as well as significant improvements in attitudes, discipline, behaviours and creativity.”

– J. J. Keays and K. R. Allison,“The Effects of Regular Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity on Student Outcomes: A Review”, Canadian Journal of Public Health 86, no. 1, (January/February 1995), p. 64.

“Between 1981 and 1996, the number of obese children in Canada between the ages of seven and 13 tripled. This is contributing to a dramatic rise in illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and some cancers.  Many young people do not have the opportunity to be physically active every day . . .”

– 2004 Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Report: Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives (Toronto: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Ontario, 2004), p. 2.

“School-based healthy eating and physical activity programs provide a great opportunity to enhance the future health and well-being of children because they can reach almost all children and may (1) enhance learning and provide social benefits, (2) enhance health during critical periods of growth and maturation, (3) lower the risk for chronic diseases in adulthood, and (4) help to establish healthy behaviors at an early age that will lead to lifelong healthy habits.”

– Paul J.Veugelers and Angela L.Fitzgerald,“Effectiveness of School Programs in Preventing Childhood Obesity: A Multilevel Comparison”, American Journal of Public Health 95, no. 3 (March 2005), p. 434.

“Analysis of data from the CCHS [Canadian Community Health Survey], the CFLRI [Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute’s] Physical Activity Monitor, and the HBSC [Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children] survey indicates that less than half of Canadian children and youth are physically active on a daily basis to a degree of energy expenditure that meets the guidelines for healthy growth and development.” 

– Active Healthy Kids Canada, Dropping the Ball: Canada’s Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, 2005 ( Toronto, 2005), p. 7.

  Have a great weekend!

Mr. Rojas