Fun ways to get your child exercising 60 minutes a day

by Katie Kowalski from KID-FIT TN

Exercise should be a part of your children’s life because it helps prevent illness and disease as well as teaches them that physical exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.  It is recommended that children and adolescents get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day.  According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, that activity should include aerobic activity, muscle strengthening and bone strengthening. Finding fresh new ways to keep your kids moving can be tricky.  Backyard equipment like playsets and trampolines can provide children with hours of activity that includes all the components of a healthy work out.

Both Trampolines and Playsets offer opportunities for muscle strengthening, bone strengthening and aerobic activity.  Muscle strengthening activities are ones that make the muscles do more work than usual during activities in daily life.  This is called “overload”.  Unstructured activities like climbing and jumping are easy ways to strengthen muscles. Bone strengthening activities produce a force on the bones that promotes bone growth.  This can be accomplished through running and jumping as well as other activities.  Jumping on a trampoline or running across a bridge on a playset can be both a bone strengthening and muscle strengthening activity.  The majority of the activity should include an aerobic activity.  This is accomplished when children use their large muscle groups rhythmically-like in jumping, running or riding a bike.  Playsets and trampolines provide perfect tool to encourage children to keep moving.

***Katie Kowalski is the owner of KID-FIT TN, offering PE classes to Preschoolers.  She lives in Franklin, TN with her husband and 2 young boys.  Find out more about KID-FIT TN by visiting her on Facebook  www.facebook.com/kidfittn***

Interested in a play set or trampoline for your home? Visit us in store at 1113 Murfreesboro Rd in Franklin or on our website at  https://www.happybackyards.com