Time to Get Our Kids Moving!
Image: Looking by Harrison Haines (CC0)
BY LEN LANTZ, MD / 11.16.24; CPM-No. 9 / 2 min read
Disclaimer: Yes, I am a physician, but I’m not your doctor, and this article does not create a doctor-patient relationship. This article is for educational purposes and should not be seen as medical advice. You should consult with your physician before you rely on this information. This post might also contain affiliate links. Please click this LINK for the full disclaimer.
I’m starting to think that part of our youth mental health crisis in the US stems from our youth inactivity epidemic.
The “2024 U.S. Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth” by the Physical Activity Alliance recently determined that only about 1 of every 5 kids is getting enough physical activity (based on federal guidelines).
While the Covid pandemic decreased kids' physical activity, recent data shows that kids have not bounced back to activity levels present before the pandemic. It scares me that many of our kids are still struggling post-pandemic. It’s time to stop staring at these problems and start doing something about them.
More playtime, less screentime
If you want to enhance your child’s mental health, get them moving. Essentially, make them play. This usually means getting them off their electronics.
Physical activity not only reduces depressive symptoms but also can prevent the onset of depression in kids. Additionally, physical activity improves anxiety and sleep. Here are some ideas for getting your child more active:
Create a list of physical activities with your child that they enjoy or are open to trying, and post it on the fridge. Include indoor and outdoor options. If your kid says, “There’s nothing to do,” tell them to pick something from the list.
Offer to join your kids in doing an activity or trying it out for the first time.
Never forget to praise your child. Tell them how glad you feel to see them taking care of their health by staying active.
By the way, electronics don’t have to be the enemy. They can actually be a big motivator. Imagine giving your kids a base amount of screentime each day. They can “earn” more screentime by engaging in physical activity. For example, you could have them earn an additional 30 minutes of screentime by doing physical activity for 30 minutes.
Also, you can use some gaming systems for physical activity. You might grant more “active” screentime than “sitting” screentime each day.
Our kids need our help and supervision to ensure they are getting active and staying active. It will help both their physical and mental health. And it might just inspire us to get more active, too!
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