Everyone knows that physical activity is important for overall health. Children are not excluded either. They benefit from physical activity just as adults do and in other ways that are just being explored by researchers.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, regular exercise helps children form good habits that will carry over into adulthood. In addition, kids who are habitually physically active tend to have
- Stronger bones and joints
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Greater muscle strength
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A decrease in body fat
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Improved flexibility
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A healthier cardiovascular system
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A reduced likelihood of developing diabetes
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More energy
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A greater ability to handle stress
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Improvements in self-confidence and self-esteem
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Greater social acceptance by physically active peers
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Opportunities to make new friends
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Better concentration at school
These are kind of the…yeah, yeah, yeah. Everybody knows this…sort of thing. However, new research is showing that regular exercise also helps kids with ADHD.
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According to Alan Smith from Michigan State University and Betsy Hoza from the University of Vermont, preliminary results show marked improvements in behavior for kids with ADHD who participate in a 20-minute workout before school. For more information about their research, check out MSU’s website and their latest in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.