Why is physical activity important for children? Well, there are actually many different reasons. Physical activity doesn’t have to be boring (it’s certainly not with PGL!). So let’s take a look at why physical activity is so great for kids!
Benefits of physical activity for children
There are many more benefits of physical activity for children than you might think, not only is it great for fun and fitness, but it can also help boost lots of personal skills.
Improve Health
The health benefits of physical activity for children are no doubt some of the biggest and best! Whether your kids are playing sports or taking part in other outdoor activities, physical activity can improve cardiovascular health and strengthen muscles and bones. It’s vital for your child’s physical growth!
Opportunity to socialise
Team sports, physical education at school, or even adventuring with friends outdoors all have elements of socialisation. Any of these provides an opportunity for kids to develop their social skills — especially team sports. Whether that means just chatting with teammates outside of the match and making new friends, or communicating in-game when taking on and giving out information, they both boost the development of different social skills.
All of this comes in handy throughout childhood and even into adulthood when your child meets new people and experiences different environments.
Develop self-esteem
Another of the greatest benefits of physical activity for children is how it can improve self-esteem. It could be that a child has low confidence in their ability in a certain sport or activity, or even struggle to socialise with new people. Physical activity is a superb way to combat this and help them regain their confidence in themselves!
Helps with stress
Physical activity can be a stress reliever, and almost any kind has the ability to reduce stress. Simply being active can stimulate the production of endorphins and reduce stress hormones, which is what happens when we feel relaxed. It’s a great distraction for kids if they’re feeling stressed, and something as simple as a run can help.
Build on skills
All kinds of physical activity can support the development of many skills such as personal skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills and physical skills. These are all heavily featured in team sports, but general outdoor activities like our PGL multi-activities can encourage kids to express themselves and learn new skills.
Some more specific benefits of physical activity for children include:
- Builds stronger bones
- Boosts cardiovascular fitness
- Improves sleep
- Increases concentration
- Helps with posture and balance
Recommended amount of physical activity for children and young people
The NHS states that children aged between 5 and 18 should take part in two types of physical activity every week. These should be aerobic exercise and exercises that strengthen their muscles and bones. It’s also important to:
- Try to take part in at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity per week
- Vary the types and intensity of physical activity to help develop different movement abilities, muscles and bones.
Physical activity with PGL
At PGL, all of our outdoor activities incorporate all of the above! From learning teamwork skills in Raft Building to helping kids conquer their fears and gain confidence whilst Abseiling. We have so many fun and thrilling activities to keep your children entertained! Check some of them out:
- Archery
- High Ropes Course
- Survivor
- Trapeze
- Zip Wire
- Problem Solving
- Giant Stand Up Paddleboarding
Make the most of the outdoors with PGL!
Now you’re familiar with the benefits of physical activity for children, why not take a look at our outdoor adventure camps! At PGL, we have a range of adventure-filled camps over the school holidays, including multi-activity holidays, watersports camps and more. Our camps have been running for over 66 years! So, we know a thing or two about adventure. You can also browse all of our children’s adventure holidays here.
We also have plenty of other camps running throughout the school holidays. So, get in touch with our friendly and experienced team today to see how we can help. It’s never too late to book!
