Physical Fitness

       

       Physical fitness is important in young children to prevent obesity, develop flexibility, built strong muscles and bones, prevent cardiovascular disease, and promote healthy growth and development. Children that do not engage in healthy fitness activities can become overweight and puts their health at risk such as developing diabetes.  Preventing obesity and overweight is easier than correcting it (Robertson, 2016).

       It is important that teachers engage children and set an example of how to stay active. Teachers can incorporate activities that require movement and keep toddlers engaged such as dancing or imaginary play.  During circle time teachers can have the toddlers stand and act out the different songs that are being sung with body movements. Toddlers are developing their gross and fine motor skills and physical activity is important in order for them to master these skills.  As stated by Play Activities to Encourage Motor Development in Child Care – extension (2015) activities such as running, jumping, climbing, throwing, and catching will help toddlers develop their gross motor skills. Developing a toddlers fine motor skills can be done with activities such as art, play dough, puzzles, and stacking blocks.  According to Robertson (2016) toddlers should be provided 60-90 minutes of structured play, in different segments, on a daily basis.

       Movement and activity can be beneficial to children’s learning and development of the brain. According to How Physical Activity Affects Academic Performance (2016) children that are active have an increased oxygen flow to the brain, increased brain neurotransmitters, and increased brain- derived neurotrophins. Neurotrophins assure the survival of neutron in areas responsible for learning, memory and higher thinking (How Physical Activity Affects Academic Performance, 2016). Not only do children benefit from physical activity in the way they feel physically but it also increases their ability to learn and focus. We often make the joke that we would love to have the energy of a child. That energy can be bottled u and prevent a child from paying attention or concentrating. If we allow the children to get some of those wiggles and giggles out then the child will be better able to sit and participate and learn.

       According to Smith (n.d.) “We are apt to forget that children watch examples better than they listen to preaching”.  This quote stands out to me because I feel that we need to teach through example. If teachers and adults show children that making healthy choices can be fun than those choices such as incorporating fitness into our daily routines become routine to them. So many times we think children should do as we say and not as we do but I feel that there is no better way to encourage the youth to be healthy than living a healthy lifestyle ourselves.   

                                                                 

                                                          References

How Physical Activity Affects Academic Performance. (2016). Retrieved from

            http://www.sparkpe.org/blog/how-physical-activity-affects-academic-performance/

Play Activities to Encourage Motor Development in Child Care - extension. (2015). Retrieved      from http://articles.extension.org/pages/25802/play-activities-to-encourage-motor-

            development-in-child-care

Robertson, C. (2016). Safety, Nutrition, Health in Early Education (6^th ed.) Boston, MA:

            Cengage Learning

Smith L. Roy (n.d.). JustQuotes.com. Retrieved July 04, 2016, from JustQuotes.com Web site:

            http://www.justquotes.com/authors/roy_l_smith/148936