Raring2go! Raring2go! 14 raring2go.co.uk 15 For many parents with young children, having their kids participate in sporting activities may not be at the top of their priorities. However, the impact that physical activity has on a child can be hugely beneficial, not only to their health, but also academically. When you think of the traditional benefits of keeping active, you generally think of keeping slim, better cardiovascular health etc. However, I bet most of you wouldn’t think of better test results at school? Yes, that’s right, it has been said that Children who play sports have – in general – an improved attention span, more efficient sleep, higher attendance and are more productive in school. These all factor into the increase seen in results. However, the benefits don’t stop there, sports can also have a massive impact of your child’s mental health. Being involved in regular physical activity can boost your child’s self-esteem considerably. Team sports are a great way to meet new people and create friendship groups outside of school. Often the bond between teammates can create strong friendships, as the children will experience the same highs and lows as each other, as well as offering support and celebrating together. Another mental health benefit is a much lower risk of suffering from anxiety and depression later in life. This is through sports promoting higher self-confidence, as well as exercise helping to release endorphins that naturally lift our mood. It is not only depression that being active can help avoid. Children with ADHD have seen large improvements in their attention span when they regularly participate in sports. Along with the obvious benefits of being active, the almost immediate benefits such a weight-loss, can stay with a person throughout their life. An active child is far less likely to suffer from obesity at a later stage, the same can be said for heart disease and diabetes. You may be sitting there reading this and be thinking ‘this is all well and good but getting a child to be active is harder than it sounds.’ Well, it is two times more likely for a child to be active if one of the parents is as well. Role models are a big part of sports and are a brilliant source of inspiration. If physical activity can benefit school grades, social life, mental health and physical health making it part of a child’s life and be encouraged wherever possible. children who spend at least five hours a week being active can see their grades improve by up to 40%! “ ” Here is a quite staggering fact about the long-term benefits of being an active child. In a survey of executive presidents at 75 of the USA’s top companies, 95% of them played sports in high school. Obviously, it is almost impossible to make a direct link from their success to playing sports at a young age, however, the skills of leadership, teamwork, competitiveness and determination that sport instils in children can all help see them excel in other walks of life. Get active! The benefits of being active reach far beyond the physical! Advert Proof
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