The Benefits of Physical Activity This School Year

Physical activity plays a crucial role in your child's overall health, academic performance, and even gut health. Encouraging regular physical activity not only keeps your child physically fit but also supports their cognitive development and mental wellbeing.

Benefits of Regular Physical Activity

Here are some key benefits of regular physical activity for children:

• Healthy Growth: Regular exercise is critical for the development of strong bones and muscles. It also helps maintain a healthy weight and can even boost the immune system.
• Academic Performance: Physical activity has been shown to improve concentration, memory, and classroom behaviour. It also reduces feelings of anxiety and depression, helping your child feel happier and more relaxed in school.
• Improves Sleep: Regular physical activity can help your child fall asleep faster and enjoy deeper, more restful sleep.
• Social Skills: Team sports and physical education classes offer children the chance to meet new people, make friends, and develop social skills. They also learn important life skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and communication.

Physical Activity and Gut Health

Physical activity also plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy gut. Here's why:

• Improved Digestion: Regular exercise helps stimulate the natural contraction of intestinal muscles, aiding digestion and helping prevent constipation.
• Enhanced Microbiota: Physical activity has been linked to increased diversity of the gut microbiota, which plays a critical role in overall health.
• Reduced Stress: Physical activity is a great stress reducer, and since stress can negatively affect gut health, regular exercise can help keep your child's digestive system in balance.
• Better Immune Response: A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system, which is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Regular physical activity supports gut health and, in turn, strengthens the immune system.

Practical Tips to Encourage Physical Activity

Here are some ways to incorporate more physical activity into your child's routine:

• Encourage walking or cycling to school if it's safe and feasible.
• Arrange playdates with plenty of physical activity, such as playing in the park, going for a swim, or even a dance-off in the living room.
• Try to involve your child in a sports team or club. They'll get regular exercise and learn valuable social skills.
• Set a good example by being active yourself. Regular family activities can be a great way to get everyone moving and spend quality time together.

As the new school year starts, let's help our children become more active and benefit from the physical, cognitive, and emotional advantages that come with regular physical activity.