Improving your child's or teen's fitness may boost his or
her academic performance, self-concept, and mental health. Here are some
helpful guidelines for improving your child's fitness.
recommend that teens and children (starting at age 6) do moderate to vigorous
activity at least 1 hour every day.1 And 3 or more
days a week, what they choose to do should:
- Make them breathe harder and make the heart beat much
- Make their muscles stronger. For example, they could play on
playground equipment, play tug-of-war, lift weights, or use resistance
- Make their bones stronger. For example, they could run, do
hopscotch, jump rope, or play basketball or tennis.
It's okay for them to be active in smaller blocks of time that
add up to 1 hour or more each day.
Encourage your child to
participate in various types of activities, including sports. You can join your
child in some activities, such as vigorous walking, in-line skating, bicycling,
tennis, dancing in the home, and exercising along with a TV program.