Why Your Child Should Walk?

‘Walking is far better for children than running,’ says Dr Lyle Micheli, director of Sports Medicine at The Children’s Hospital in Boston. ‘Because of its low impact, it prevents the injured tissue and joint injuries we’ve seen in children while exert two-and-a-half to five times their body weight while running.’

      Walking works because it is a low-impact, low-stress activity and is the safest aerobic exercise for kids, since their feet strike the ground with only 1-1.5 times their body weight. Walking is a moderate exercise, so the strength of kids’ legs and cardiovascular endurance improves gradually without stain or injury.

        Children who walk regularly develop in much the same way as adults- they increase their stamina, strength and flexibility. Although aerobic capacity increases regardless of training as a child grows, children who walk regularly will achieve greater aerobic capacity than sedentary kids. And that’s not all that walking will do for your kids:

WALKING…..

·         Helps develop good posture

·         Firms and tones muscles, improving body shape

·         Burns stored body fat and helps weight loss

·         Promotes strong bone growth, reducing the risk of osteo- porosis in later life

·         Reduces the risk of heart disease and back pain

·         Makes kids physically and mentally more alert

·         Fosters independence and self-reliance

·         Encourages kids to think for themselves

·         Increases confidence, self-esteem and self-image

   

Walking is a non-competitive activity, doesn’t require any special equipment and can be done equally well by boys and girls. Regular walking can enhance a child’s reading, writing and other skills, and their increased aerobic fitness will help them cope with the pressures of school and examinations.

Walking is one activity that your kids can keep up for a lifetime.