You would think your kids are getting enough exercise if they’re involved in school sports, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
A new study in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that less than 25 percent of student athletes receive the recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise. What’s more, researchers found that the kids actually spent, on average, 30 minutes of their practice sessions being completely inactive!
Think about it – not everyone is always participating in the game, and the same thing goes for practice. With some sports, children are often found standing around in the field, inactive for certain periods of time or worse, left sitting on the bench. The authors of the study suggest that adults “take a more active role in the practice sessions, even if that means monitoring children with a pedometer.” That seems a little extreme; no one likes an overly involved parent screaming from the sidelines, especially if you’re yelling to move more.
Instead, play a more active role by attending their games and even some practices so you can get a better idea of how active your child is on the field. If it’s not enough, encourage your child to try and be more involved in the game, or make sure he or she is making up for it the rest of the day. Practice with your little athlete at home – it’s good exercise for them and for you!
