Childhood obesity has been on the rise in the country according to surveys conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey this is why it’s important now more than ever before to make sure we do everything we can to help bring these numbers down. There are a number of reasons why childhood obesity is so important:
· Children who are obese are at a greater risk for health related issues such as heart disease.
· Obese children are more inclined to social discrimination.
· Obese children are at risk to having sleep apnea.
· Asthma is another health risk related to childhood obesity.
· Type 2 diabetes has also been linked to childhood obesity.
There are three skills that are important for childhood development; fine motor skills, locomotive skills and gross motor skills (Goodway). These skills are important because they help children develop skills they need like tying their shoes, playing catch and things like skipping rope and playing basketball. Physical activity can help them master these skills by allowing them to practice and work on using certain muscles and body parts.
Adults can make a huge impact on the way children eat and the amount of physical activity they receive. One thing they can do is to limit the amount of “idle” time they have playing video games and watching television. Two activities adults can do to help children get the physical activity they need is playing hop scotch; this way they can work on their gross motor skills and their numbers at the same time. Another activity children can do is make necklaces out of manipulative shapes; helping them work on fine motor skills or grasping and shapes.
“Individuals responsible for the well-being of preschoolers should be aware of the importance of physical activity and facilitate the child’s movement skills” (National Association for Sport and Physical Education).
This statement is so true often times teachers get raped up in the academic impact they make on children and forget to realize how physical activities can impact childhood development and health. This impact can be carried on until adulthood and if children are not taught to eat healthy and excise they can and will be at risk for health and developmental problems in the future.
References
Goodway, J. D., & Robinson, L. E. (2006, March). SKIPing toward an active start: Promoting physical activity in preschoolers. Beyond the Journal: Young Children on the Web. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200605/GoodwayBTJ.pdf
Schilling, T., & McOmber, K. A. (2006, May). Tots in action on and beyond the playground. Beyond the Journal: Young Children on the Web. Retrieved from the Walden Library using this link: http://proquest.umi.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/pqdweb?did=1038789361&sid=1&Fmt=4&clientId=70192&RQT=309&VName=PQD
National Association for Sport and Physical Education. (2006, May). Active start: Physical activity guidelines for children birth to five years. Beyond the Journal: Young Children on the Web. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200605/NASPEGuidelinesBTJ.pdf
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