Like adults, kids need exercise. Most children need at least an hour of physical activity every day. Regular exercise helps children
- Feel less stressed
- Feel better about themselves
- Feel more ready to learn in school
- Keep a healthy weight
- Build and keep healthy bones, muscles and joints
- Sleep better at night
As kids spend more time watching TV, they spend less time running and playing. Parents should limit TV, video game and computer time. Parents can set a good example by being active themselves. Exercising together can be fun for everyone. Competitive sports can help kids stay fit. Walking or biking to school, dancing, bowling and yoga are some other ways for kids to get exercise.
- BAM! Physical Activity(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bam.gov/sub_physicalactivity/
- Kids and Exercise(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/exercise.html
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Exercise (Physical Activity) and Children(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4596
Also available in Spanish http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3041069
- Fitness for Kids: Getting Your Children off the Couch(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/fitness/FL00030/METHOD=print
- Sports May Ease Activity Decline during Teen Years(04/08/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82725.html
- School PE Programs Don't Lower Child Obesity(03/30/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82316.html
- Many U.S. Middle School Kids Physically Unfit(03/25/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82157.html
- Children Living Near Green Spaces Are More Active(03/12/2009, American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=694
- More News on Exercise for Children http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_e.html#exerciseforchildren
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Dehydration(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/first_aid/dehydration.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/seguridad/dehydration_esp.html
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Healthy Eating and Physical Activity across Your Lifespan: Helping Your Child (Tips for Parents)
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/child.htm
Also available in Spanish http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/su_hijo.htm
- Children and Sports: Choices for All Ages(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/fitness/SM00057/METHOD=print
- Fitness and Your 13- to 18-year-old(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/fitness_13_18.html
- Fitness and Your 2- to 3-Year-Old(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/fitness_2_3.html
- Fitness and Your 4-to 5-Year Old(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/fitness_4_5.html
- Fitness and Your 6- to 12-Year-Old(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/fitness_6_12.html
- Get Fit! A Handbook for Youth Ages 6-17(President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports) - Large PDF file - http://www.fitness.gov/publications/council/getfitandbeactive_pdf.pdf
- Kickboxing(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/kickboxing.html
- Pilates(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/pilates.html
- Strength Training and Your Child(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/strength_training.html
- T'ai Chi(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/tai_chi.html
- Yoga(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/yoga.html
- Compulsive Exercise(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/compulsive_exercise.html
- Fitness for Kids Who Don't Like Sports(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness/hate_sports.html
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Motivating Kids to Be Active(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/fitness/general/active_kids.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/crecimiento/active_kids_esp.html
- Powerful Girls Have Powerful Bones(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) - http://www.girlshealth.gov/bones/
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Exercise for Children(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=child+%5BAGE-GROUP%5D+AND+exercise+%5BTREATMENT%5D
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Simple Exercise in Children Yields Long-Term Skeletal Benefit(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2008/bugsy_exercise.asp
- Teens Exercising Far Less Than Kids(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/research/teens_fitness.html
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Fitness of children with standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia during maintenance... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19346877&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Osteoarthritis and exercise: a review of the literature. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19331086&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Postcard: Beijing. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19288872&tool=MedlinePlus
- Exercise for Children -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=exercise[majr]+OR+physical+fitness[majr]+NOT+physiology[sh]+AND+(infant[mh]+OR+child[mh]+OR+adolescent[mh])+NOT+adult[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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Obesity, Physical Activity, and Weight-Control Glossary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/glossary.htm
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
- President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports - http://www.fitness.gov/
- Physical Activity and the Health of Young People(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/facts.htm
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6 "Bests" About Kids' Exercise - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter09/articles/winter09pg6.html
- BAM! Physical Activity(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bam.gov/sub_physicalactivity/
- Fitness - Steps to a Healthy Life(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://www.girlshealth.gov/fitness/
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Getting Muscles(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/fit/getting_muscles.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/cuerpo/getting_muscles_esp.html
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It's Time to Play(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/fit/what_time.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/creciendo/what_time_esp.html
- Cold-Weather Sports(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/winter_sports.html
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Motivation and the Power of Not Giving Up(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/motivation.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/motivation_esp.html
- Sports and Exercise Safety(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/sport_safety.html
- Strength Training(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/strength_training.html
- Stretching(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/exercise/stretching.html
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Take Charge of Your Health: A Teenager's Guide to Better Health(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/take_charge.htm
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Why Exercise Is Wise(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/take_care/exercise_wise.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/exercise_wise_esp.html
- Exercise and Physical Fitness - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseandphysicalfitness.html
- Sports Fitness - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sportsfitness.html
- Children and Teenagers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenandteenagers.html
- Fitness and Exercise - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fitnessandexercise.html
- Wellness and Lifestyle - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/wellnessandlifestyle.html