Having kids play in a fall sport is a great way to keep them active. Schools all over the country are cutting back on physical education time, so kids need to find other ways to get the exercise they need. Sports can help supplement a dwindling physical education in many ways.
Unfortunately, while gym class hours are diminishing, childhood obesity rates are going up. Children are suffering from obesity and other health problems because of the lack of exercise they are getting. Couple it with a poor diet, and the same children can be facing a lot more health issues than they should. Watch what your children eat and help keep them physically active.
The recommended amount of time children should be exercising every day is 60 minutes. It doesn’t need to be a consecutive 60 minutes, but the amount of exercise should equal at least one hour every day. A great way to accomplish that is to get your children involved in sports. An hour of soccer practice every day can help keep your child on a healthy track as well as teach him the fundamentals of teamwork. It will also help build self esteem and teach kids different types of discipline they might not know.
If your child is not getting the exercise he needs, think about signing him up for a sport. Talk to other parents in the neighborhood or school to see what’s available. Fall is a great time to start a sport – the weather is cooling down and it’s pleasant to exercise outside. Soccer, football, cheerleading, cross country… whatever your child takes interest in, support it to the fullest. You will be doing him a serious favor by helping to stave off obesity and lead him down a healthy path. You never know, he might actually like it, too!
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