How Much Physical Activity Do Children Need?

In addition to benefiting the health and everyday temperament of a child, regular exercise is vital to his or her development. In order to reap the full benefits of exercise, children and adolescents should exercise for a minimum of one hour each day. For tips on encouraging your child to exercise this much and a breakdown of how to optimize the impact this exercise has on his or her physical and mental development, continue reading below.
Aerobic Exercise
Effective at building stamina and improving cardiovascular health, aerobic exercise is essential to the  development of a healthy, strong child. Any sport that requires your child to run or otherwise work up his or her heart rate can your child meet his or her aerobic exercise needs. Aerobic exercise should make up between two­-thirds and three­-fourths of your child’s exercise regimen, a goal that can easily be met through a combination of physical education training in school and extracurricular sports practice.
Bone Strengthening
90% of your child’s bone mass will develop by the time he or she reaches the age of 20. Weight­-bearing exercises, including running and jumping, are the best way to increase your child’s bone mass and pave the way for a bone healthy adult life.
Muscle Training
Push­-ups, sit­-ups, squats, and other exercises that focus on a particular muscle or muscle group should be practiced by your child a minimum of three days per week. Muscle training exercise is often built into sports league practice. At Aviator Sports and Events Center in New York City, we are proud to offer a safe and fun environment in which children can get the physical activity they need to thrive. From the aerobic and bone strengthening activity required of soccer to the muscle training that occurs on the rock wall, we have sports leagues and group activities that will help your child develop a love for exercise at a young age. To speak with a member of our team about our activities or facilities, call 718-758-7500.