Benefits of Keeping Kids Active All Year

If your family is typical, your kids have probably spent at least part of their summer at a camp, either a local day camp or a sleep-away version, where the focus was on activity. Days filled with swimming, gymnastics, and sports are a great break from sitting at desks and are undoubtedly good for children. However, once the school year begins, kids still will reap huge benefits from physical extra-curricular activities all year round.

Physical Growth

The physical advantages are obvious. Active kids are stronger, have better stamina, energy, and coordination, and avoid extra weight gain. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, in 2012 the percentage of obese children between ages 6 and 11 was 18 percent and for teens and tweens it climbed to 21 percent. Avoiding excess weight gain in childhood and adolescence helps prevent other health problems in adulthood. 

One of the best known benefits—this actually applies to all ages—is that physical activity is a great stress reducer. Exercising muscles that have been underused all day releases tension, making it easier for kids to do their homework and pay attention in class the next day.

Cognitive and Social Benefits

Regular physical activity in extra-curricular activities such as gymnastics also promotes cognitive growth as children practice problem-solving skills on new problems in a different setting. Conversely, the skills they learn solving gymnastics problems will give them a boost in the classroom. Studies have shown that kids who are physically active perform better academically. 

Children also gain social skills from participation in gymnastics classes where they are required to listen to directions and wait for their turn. There’s also a lot of interaction between students during class as they help each other learn and practice each new skill. Perhaps the best benefit is that kids aren’t aware they are learning these types of skills. To them, the classes are just fun. They get to be with friends they may not see at school and they get to challenge themselves in different ways.

Finally, supervised extra-curricular activities promote safety. When your children learn new skills from a knowledgeable instructor, they learn how to do them correctly so they don’t get hurt. As they move through a class curriculum their confidence grows as they realize they can do these difficult movements. Confidence at gymnastics class translates to confidence everywhere else.

At Tumblebees, we have a variety of rec classes for your child, from gymnastics to rock climbing, parkour, dance and more! Learn more at tumblebees.com