How Much Should we be Exercising?

Children & adolescents aged 6 - 17 years old should be engaging in a MINIMUM of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.

Being physically active everyday isn't just good for your health. It aids in appropriate growth & development, it presents positive social interactions and actually boost cognitive development as well.

"Moderate to vigorous physical activity means that there should be an increase in heart rate and they should be breathing heavier than normal."

There are different types of activities that children should be engaging in on regular basis.

Aerobic Activities

Most of the activities that children do should be aerobic in nature. This means that their heart rate should increase and they should be breathing heavier than normal. This includes walking, running or anything that gets their heart rate up.

Muscle Strengthening Activities

Children should also be doing muscle strengthening exercises 2-3 times per week. These exercises should strain their muscles and make their muscles fatigued. This includes activities like climbing, hiking or any body weight exercises (ie: push ups). This type of exercise helps build muscle and prevents long term fat storage.

Bone Strengthening Activities

Bone strengthening exercises are also important and should be included 2-3 times per week. These exercises help build and develop strong bones. Think high impact activities like running or jumping.

Ultimately, if your child is active for 60 minutes or more each day you are meeting the guidelines set by the CDC. Engaging in a variety of different physical activities will have the best impact on their health & development.