Child's play is key to kids' health

The benefits to youngsters taking part in physical activity programs, organized sports and structured exercise programs can’t be stressed enough.

Inactivity plays a direct role in the development of many diseases that are increasingly afflicting youngsters, including: childhood obesity, hypertension, atherosclerosis and even type 2 diabetes (otherwise known as adult onset siabetes).

More often than not, children who are not active during childhood grow up to be inactive adults. The vicious cycle then continues with their own children.

So what type of physical activity should they be taking part in? On the whole, children who are in good health are generally willing to participate regularly in physical activity.

Aside from the obvious health benefits of regular participation in exercise, there are a number of other not so obvious reasons to get your child active.

Being physically active with other children will develop their psycho-social skills. Making friends and socializing with “strangers” becomes easier. They will learn the importance of playing and “working” with other children, with their levels of attention and concentration being positively affected, too