Introduction

Physical activity is vitally important for childhood development. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the many benefits of childhood physical activity, including increased cognitive function and better sleep quality.

Why is Physical Activity So Important?

Physical activity is important because it helps children to grow and develop physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. It can help improve cognitive function, sleep quality, moods, and academic performance. Physical activity has been shown to improve cognition, increase brain size, promote better sleep quality, and build social skills.

What Can Physical Activity Teach a Child About Life?

Another benefit of physical activity is that it can teach children a lot about life. For example, it can teach them how to set goals, work hard towards a goal, and persevere through difficult tasks. Physical activity can also help children learn how to cooperate with others and how to handle winning and losing gracefully. As children grow, learning how to handle losses will become increasingly important for their development. Similarly learning how to celebrate others will also matter in places like job settings, and social environments.

The Scientific Breakdown of How Physical Activity Affects the Brain

The scientific breakdown of how physical activity affects the brain is also quite fascinating. From a scientific standpoint, physical activity can increase the size of the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and learning. Physical activity can also cause new brain cells to form (neurogenesis), and it can improve communication among brain cells. Providing your child with physical activity can ironically impact their success both inside and outside of school which is why so many school programs offer physical activities to families.

Conclusion

The benefits of physical activity are vas. It is important for children to be physically active every day in order to optimize their development. Doing so can help improve cognitive function, sleep quality, moods, and academic performance. Physical activity is an important part of childhood development and should be encouraged in all children.