It's Child's Play

It's Child's Play


Physical fitness is a vital part of being healthy. For
children, being and staying physically fit can happen with
activities they refer to as PLAY! Play that makes them breathe
deeply is aerobic exercise. Aerobic activities such as
bicycling, jumping rope, roller skating, running, dancing, and
swimming can be beneficial if they are done for 12 to 15
minutes without stopping.

The young child develops an active lifestyle as he or she
begins to creep, crawl, and then walk. Young children learn how
to move in their environment by playing alone in their own
personal space.

As children grow, they hop, march, run, roll, toss,
bounce, and kick. Their bodies are changing in terms of height
and weight, and they are beginning to form a self-concept
through comparison with others as they move.

When play is organized into specific movements, it becomes
exercise. For exercise to become part of each day, these
movements or activities should meet the interests and needs of
your child. Play is the beginning. Children can follow their
own paths to lifetime fitness by exercising for fun and at
their own pace.



Watching too much TV can deprive your child of
opportunities to play and exercise. Set a good example. Limit
TV watching. Walk to your destination as often as possible.
Play active games with your child. Help form neighborhood
sports teams and participate in the recreation.

Everyone can exercise. Certain exercises keep your heart
and lungs healthy. Strong, flexible muscles can be developed
with exercise. As your child achieves fitness through exercise,
a growing self-confidence will be another benefit of a fitness
routine.


Let's Stay Well.


Reducing the risk of disease is a major goal in helping
your child grow up healthy. Bacteria and viruses cause disease
and sickness, and cleanliness can help prevent the spread of
these germs. Sharing such items as a comb, toothbrush,
hairbrush, or cup, even among family members, can also spread
disease. Having clean clothes and daily baths shows children
that being clean not only feels good, but also helps them stay
well.

You can teach your children to wash their hands at an
early age. Tell your children that skin can stop germs from
entering the body, and washing can reduce the risk of infection
if your child has a cut or scrape.

Explain, too, that harmful germs and viruses can be spread
by a sneeze or a cough. Teach your child to stay away from
people who are sneezing and coughing. Children can help prevent
the spread of disease if they cover their sneezes or coughs
with a tissue.

Everybody has an internal disease fighting system (immune
system) made of antibodies and white blood cells. Your child
can help that immune system function well by getting enough
sleep, by eating nutritious meals, and by exercising.



Vaccinations also prevent disease and play an important
part in helping your child grow up healthy. The idea of having
a shot may be frightening to a child. Help your child
understand that this vaccination is a medicine that prevents
disease. It's a lot more fun to be playing with friends than to
be sick.

A vaccination chart for keeping track of immunizations can
be found on the inside front cover. The importance of
vaccinating children at the appropriate ages cannot be
overemphasized.