Helping Children Stay Active — Complete Guide
In recent years, children’s habits in terms of physical activity and mobility have deteriorated significantly. According to a study recently published in Archives of Public Health, less than 30% of children in general meet the WHO minimum requirements for daily physical activity.
This is a warning sign when it comes to the physical, mental, and social health of school-age children.
Attracted to mobile devices and video games and simply not incentivized to move and stay active, children may find it more difficult later in life when it comes to social interaction, school performance, health, and well-being. Therefore, helping parents understand why their children should be active is crucial.
Find out how to tell if someone is chatting on Messenger and how parents can ensure their children are getting enough physical activity, as well as how mSpy can help balance online habits with a more active and healthy lifestyle.
Why is physical activity vital for children?
Movement is essential for a full experience of the world. Regular exercise not only strengthens cardiovascular health, bone and muscle growth, and weight control, but it also greatly improves mental well-being.
Sport and active play reduce stress, increase concentration, and boost self-esteem. A lack of movement greatly increases the risk of childhood obesity, postural problems, and behavioral manifestations of muscle weakness and lack of vitality (tech addiction).
Why are children less active today?
In recent years, several factors have contributed to the decline in physical activity among young people.
- Increased screen time: tablets, video games, and social media now “steal the show,” taking up more and more hours during the day.
- Lack of outdoor space: in large cities, finding a safe place to play ‘carefree’ is often a challenge.
- Hectic family schedules: between school, homework, and parents’ commitments, time for physical activity is reduced to a minimum.
- All this creates a vicious circle: more time spent online means less movement, and less movement leads, in the long run, to poorer health habits.
Tips for parents to encourage physical activity
Here are some expert-approved tips that really work:
- Create a daily routine that includes at least an hour of exercise. You don’t need to go to the gym, just have fun together.
- Cut down on screen time and encourage your children to play outside.
- Get everyone involved: a walk after dinner, a game of soccer, anything that adults and children enjoy. This way, children feel part of the group and have more fun.
- Suggest a team sport, a dance class, swimming, or martial arts. These activities teach discipline, but above all, they help them make new friends.
- And, let’s face it, setting an example is very important: if you are active, your children will follow your lead without even realizing it.
mSpy: a tool to help your children maintain a healthy lifestyle
Many parents wonder how to keep track of how much time their children spend in front of the screen and what they do online — or even how to remove a child from Family Link without deleting their account. This is where mSpy comes in handy, offering parents smart tools to monitor, guide, and protect their kids while helping them build healthy digital habits.This parental monitoring tool allows you to:
– Keep an eye on your children’s online activities without them knowing;
– Use GPS tracking to always be aware of their location;
– Set limits on app usage and block apps you don’t approve of;
– Monitor how much time they spend in front of the screen to help them take breaks and get moving.
mSpy is useful for those seeking to balance technology and their children’s well-being, even during the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Conclusion
Physical activity is essential for children’s healthy growth, but they cannot do it on their own, because the digital world offers so much entertainment and easy distractions. Constant support from parents to introduce more sports and movement into daily life is essential.
You can help children rediscover the joy of exercise and outdoor time with tools like mSpy and good daily habits.
