Physical Fitness

In young children, physical fitness is very important to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Physical fitness in young children helps to prevent childhood obesity. Time spent in physical activity also creates neural connections in the brain. The preschool years are especially important for gross motor and locomotive development. Physical fitness helps children build endurance, flexibility and strength. When offering opportunities for and encouraging physical skill building, it helps children become physically fit (Robertson, 2010, pp265-266).

When children do not engage in physical activities, the risk of obesity is even higher. Preschool children should have at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily (Robertson, 2010, p265). This play can be either structured or unstructured. Running, hopping, walking, skipping, climbing and jumping are skills that come naturally to preschool children. These activities not only keep them physically fit, but also helps them build endurance, flexibility and strength (Robertson, 2010, p267).

Activities such as bicycle riding and playing catch are two activities that contribute to the physical development of preschool children. They are fun and involve the use of the children’s muscles to keep them physically fit. Bicycle riding helps to develop gross motor skills because it involves major movement of the arms and legs. Playing catch with a small ball, such as a baseball, helps to develop fine motor skills because it involves hand-eye coordination where the child has to watch the ball and use their hands to catch it.

As an early childhood educator, it is important to make sure that the children are staying physically fit. You have to devote at least an hour of physical activity daily in order to make sure that the children stay physically fit. Whether the play is structured or unstructured, the children still benefit from the activities. I believe that the teacher should also do his or her part and involve themselves in the activities. It not only benefits the teacher, but also encourages the students to stay physically active, thus beginning them on the path to a healthy lifestyle. Early childhood teachers are the beginning step to ensuring that children follow a healthy lifestyle. If they show an initial interest, then the children will develop the same interest and do what it takes to continue that path to a healthy lifestyle.

References

Robertson, Cathie. (2010). Safety, nutrition and health in early education. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Pub Co.