We already published a pyramid of physical activity for children two years ago, so it is convenient to return to remember the exercise and movement tips, and more considering that María Neira, the Director of the Department of Public Health and Environment of the World Health Organization tells us how in high-income countries, such as Spain, "people increasingly eat more and exercise less, resulting in weight gain”.
The Balanced diet is essential but not enough, and consequently the Mediterranean Diet Foundation recommends the following list of activities for children:
- Move every day: activities valid for parents and children such as walking, household chores, active games or walking the dog.
- 3-5 times a week at least 20 minutes each time: activities and vigorous sports like soccer, skating, cycling, swimming ...
- 2-3 times a week: activities to enhance the flexibility and strength like dancing, push-ups, psychomotor skills, martial arts ...
- Less than 2 hours: watch TV, play with electronic games and with the computer.
We as parents should ask ourselves two questions:
- ¿We preach with the example, the most effective teaching method as we discussed in another post?
- ¿We give enough opportunities to our children to move, jump and deep down of being childrenOr do we subject them to rigid school hours and non-physical extracurricular activities?
Well, this has a solution. The family that exercises together stays together
