In the age of Digital Dominance children of today are more hooked to computer games. It is important that children should go out and play with neighborhood kids. A new study says that parents who home-school their children may think that putting them into organized sports and physical activities keep them fit but the young need much more. Playing outside gives your child the chance to explore the natural environment and have adventures. They can play their favorite games, test her physical limits, express themselves and build self-confidence. Outdoor play can also mean more mess – and more mess often means more fun.
When your child is outside, he probably has more space and freedom for big movements, like running, jumping, kicking and throwing. Physical activities like these are good for his health, fitness and physical development. Spending time outdoors might lower your child’s chances of being short-sighted. And a bit of safe play in the sun can be good too – small amounts of sunlight exposure can help boost vitamin D levels.
The researchers, from Rice University, said the problem lies in how much activity is part of an organised regimen. The authors said parents should give their children at least 45 minutes of physical activity per day to keep them fit and maintain their weight. According to the World Health Organisation, children should get about an hour of primarily aerobic activity a day. But other studies have noted children involved in non-elite sports actually get only 20-30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise they require. For the study, published in the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, the researchers studied data gathered from 100 home-schooled children aged between 10-17
