The lack of physical activity in children can lead to coronary artery disease, obesity, poor muscle development, poor coordination, and low self esteem ("Children and Physical Activity," 2002). Through physical activity children improve their motor skills, cognitive development, and social skills ("Skills Developed Through Play," n.d.). The mastery of these skills reduces a child’s chance for poor growth development, stress, and the inability to get along with their peers.
Children that do not engage in healthy fitness activities are at risk of being obese. Childhood obesity has both physical and psychological effects. Obesity in a child can bring about the same health threats as in an adult. Those that suffer from obesity are at risk of high cholesterol, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea ("Effects of Childhood Obesity," n.d.). The psychological effects of obesity are discrimination, low self-esteem, feelings of isolation, and suffer the effects from the teasing of their peers.
Educators and childcare providers can help in the development of healthy fitness habits. Providers should incorporate daily fitness activities as well as education lesson that allow for movement into the daily schedules of the children in their care.”Geomotion” is a program that incorporates movement with learning ("Geomotion," n.d.). The program takes daily lessons and adds motion to them. It provides a non-competitive environment that allows all children to enjoy the lesson at hand. If the funds are not available to purchase the materials provided with “Geomotion” one can create their own motion lessons. The use of laminated colored squares, music, and a simple dance routine provides for both movement and learning. This type of lesson helps children develop gross motor skills. A field trip to a strawberry farm is an educational opportunity on how strawberries are grown, the equipment used to harvest, and the nutritional benefits. The picking of the strawberries helps with the development of fine motor skills ("Strawberry Activities for Preschool Fine Motor Fitness," n.d.). The picking of the strawberries helps increase the hand muscles. When strawberries are not in season the same development of fine motor skills can be by purchasing grapes from the local market and having the children help remove the grapes from the vine.
Inspirational quotes on children and nutrition: “Children are one third of our population and all of our future”. ~Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981.
“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.” -Thomas Edison
Learning positive fitness habits as a child can pave the way to healthy fitness habits as an adult. When educators and providers model healthy fitness habits children take the model actions home and incorporate them into the home environment (Schilling & McOmber, May, 2006). Creating an environment that allows for movement with learning today will have an impact in the future of both children and adults. Together we can create a healthy environment for future generations to come.
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