Wheeling preschoolers encouraged to get movin'
January 27 marks National Preschool Fitness Day 2017, and Wheeling preschoolers are encouraged to get extra active through the weekend and then keep moving into the rest of the winter.
According to parks and recreation statistics, nearly 32% of children 2-4 are obese or overweight. In addition, 20% of children 2-18 do not receive the recommended hour or more of physical activity on a typical day, and fewer than 30% of children exercise 60 minutes or more every day.
"Those statistics are sad," commented Shik Lee, a Wheeling entrepreneur who owns and operates White Tiger Martial Arts Center. "It breaks my heart to see information like that. Kids have a naturally high level of energy; all they need is an outlet."
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children and adolescents should do at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. The CDC recommends three types of exercise:
Aerobic:
Aerobic activity should make up the majority of a child's 60-plus daily minutes of physical activity. This could include either moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as brisk walking or vigorous-intensity activity like running. Vigorous-intensity aerobic activity should be included at least three days per week.
Muscle Strengthening:
Muscle-strengthening activities like gymnastics or push-ups should be included at least three days per week as part of a child's physical activity regimen.
Bone Strengthening:
Jumping rope, running and other bone-strengthening activities should also be included on at least three of a child's days per week.
"These are great recommendations," stated Lee, "Organized sports such as taekwondo and other martial arts are a great way for young children to stay active, especially during the winter months. "These activities involve running, jumping, kicking, and screaming," Lee commented jokingly. "Everything parents want to prevent their children from doing in their living rooms we highly encourage - in the right environment."
The cold Midwest winters sometimes do not make it ease to focus on physical activity for younger kids. Even in years when it is unseasonably warm for the Chicagoland area, it is still very cold. Finding the right activities can be challenging for parents. Check with your park district and other local organizations to see if there is a weekend or evening class that can help drain out some of the excess energy and do something healthy at the same time.