Physical Play; a track to get your kids moving
March 8, 2018
We hear a lot of things about physical play and how it is an integral part to a child’s learning and development but sometime these teachings fall onto deaf ears of parents while others have keyed into it. Which category do you belong? Here is the tip of the iceberg, what you take your kids through in their early years is directly proportional to their healthy growth and development of strong hearts, muscles, bones etc. This is all about physical play and we all have a part to play in it. It’s one path that guarantees the healthy development of our kids.
What is Physical Play?
The word physical play might seem to be an ambiguous word but I will break it down for you. Physical play involves the activities, exercises or tasks that engage physical movements to allow children to use their energy, and it gives children an opportunity to develop a strong heart, muscles, bones and fine motor skills, learn new things and socialize. It is generally referred to as physical activity.
Benefits of Physical Play
In the next few paragraphs I will cover the benefits of physical play or better yet, physical activity in the early years of kids.
Being physically active as a kid is a major key for the development of a healthy life and I should remind you that this is the best time for you to get them involve as their physical abilities are on the high side. The numerous benefits accompanied by being physically active include healthy growth and development, the building of strong hearts, bones and muscles, and the learning of fundamental moving skills.
At this juncture, did you notice that the aforementioned benefits were just related to physical health? Beyond physical health, physical play also entails the improvement of mental well-being, self-esteem, confidence, attention and concentration and other cognitive development. Now, let’s move on to how you can get your kids on the move.
Ways To Get Your Kids On The Move
After reading the benefits I hope you are now interested in knowing how to get your kids on the move! Be rest assured that we’ve got you covered, here are five easy things you can do to get your child moving:
Sports
Ever thought of what sports inhibits and how it can help put your kid on the move? Sports provides an opportunity for them to be on the move and an avenue to explore their natural talents.
Chip it in
As a guardian, mother, or father you have the power to include physical play in your regular activities and this cannot be overestimated. It puts more fun in mundane tasks and could help lighten the load of chores or disliked activities.
Relationship and Interaction
This is another way to get your kid on the move. Look for every opportunity to engage your child in relating with people, be it small groups or individuals! Social interaction helps to boost their mental well-being and it’s very important too.
Get out of that comfort zone
We live in a beautiful area and have so many ways we can get outside and try new things, whether it’s hiking, water sports, snow sports, camping, etc. With so many choices it’s important to encourage your children to get out of their comfort zone and explore the environment around them! When you expose them to different ways of playing outside, you get a double benefit of both physical and mental development. Much thanks to physical play!
Don’t just sit on the couch
Finally, get off the couch and limit screen time! Even if you are home you can still find ways to incorporate activity into your day, which allows you to be able to watch your kids grow mentally and physically.
Conclusion
It’s our responsibility to provide kids with the experiences and opportunity to influence their choices positively and physical play is one weapon at hand.
