[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/01\/exercise-and-children\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/01\/exercise-and-children\/","headline":"Is Your Child Getting Enough Exercise?","name":"Is Your Child Getting Enough Exercise?","description":"Exercise and regular physical activity in children and adolescents is important in promoting lifelong health and well-being. According to the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, children ages 6-17 years old should get at least one hour or more of physical activity each day. Ensuring your child gets adequate exercise can be done at home […]","datePublished":"2019-01-14","dateModified":"2021-04-22","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","name":"UPMC Harrisburg","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-harrisburg\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/GettyImages-1264128396.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/GettyImages-1264128396.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/01\/exercise-and-children\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Pediatrics"],"wordCount":499,"keywords":["back to school","exercise","Pinnacle Health"],"articleBody":"Exercise and regular physical activity in children and adolescents is important in promoting lifelong health and well-being. According to the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, children ages 6-17 years old should get at least one hour or more of physical activity each day. Ensuring your child gets adequate exercise can be done at home and at school.What are the benefits of exercise?Exercise helps children grow and remain healthy. It has been shown that regular physical activity can help children improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as:Heart diseaseCancerType 2 diabetesHigh blood pressureOsteoporosisObesityPhysical activity is crucial in improving your child\u2019s quality of life by decreasing their risk of developing crippling health conditions and improving their brain function.How does exercise help children in school?Studies have shown that children who get at least one hour of exercise a day are more likely to perform better in school than their counterparts who go without exercise. Exercise has been linked to increased oxygen flow to the brain and increased neurotransmitters that help your child improve his or her brain function. Students who are physically active tend to have better grades, better school attendance, improved memory, and better classroom behaviors.Recess could be one of the most important parts of your child\u2019s school day to help increase their performance levels. They can play all sorts of active games and rid themselves of their built-up energy. But what if your child does not have recess?Physical education, activity breaks, extra-curricular activities including sports are another great way to increase your child\u2019s activity and brain function. Getting your child involved in school and after school is a great way to help improve their overall health and wellness.How can I encourage my child to exercise?It is important to encourage your child to be physically active with age-appropriate activities that are enjoyable and that offer variety.It is recommended that this exercise be moderate (i.e. walking, dancing, hiking, bike riding) or something more vigorous (i.e. running, playing tag, swimming, etc.).There are a variety of activities your child can choose from to keep them active, including:HikingBicycle ridingDancingSkateboardingRollerbladingSwimmingMartial artsGames like tug-of-war or hopscotchSwingingSkippingJumping ropeIntroducing exercise at a young age increases the likelihood your child will continue exercising through adulthood. They will be more likely to continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle because it has been a major part of their daily routine.Talk to your child\u2019s pediatrician about their weight and physical activity. If you need a pediatrician, please visit pinnaclehealth.org\/primary care. \u00a0\u00a0To find out more information on UPMC Pinnacle\u2019s current programs for youth or for tips and resources, please contact Monica Lazur, Youth Wellness Program Coordinator at (717) 782-4703 or mlazur@pinnaclehealth.org.Featuring Monica Lazur, MPH"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Is Your Child Getting Enough Exercise?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/01\/exercise-and-children\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]