Encouraging pre-schoolers and young children to be active is essential to their overall health, including healthy brain development. For parents, it's "smart thinking" to nurture kids as they learn to move, play and interact with others.
According to Dawne Clark, a professor at Mount Royal University's Centre for Child Well-Being in Calgary, kids learn by doing. "We are learning that the early years are the most important for building a healthy brain, which sets the foundation for a successful productive life."
Clark offers the metaphor that building a child's brain is like building a house, where the child's genetic inheritance is the blueprint for the house. "This blueprint is just the beginning. Nurturing caring individuals and supportive experiences are the building blocks of a strong brain that will last a lifetime."
Clark adds, "Just as a house has four walls, a child's brain relies on four areas of development: cognitive, social, emotional, and physical. All four areas of development need to be attended to in order to ensure a balanced, well-functioning child."
Physical Development & Physical Literacy: As your children develop cognitively, socially, and emotionally, it's amazing to see how they grow and learn. It's equally exciting to support them as they learn to move and develop physically.
Clarke states, "When young children have fun, positive, and meaningful experiences - such as active play, building a fort or snowman, or giggling and running with friends or parents - they are building a strong foundation for a healthy, active lifestyle."
Clarke also "connects the dots" between physical literacy and healthy brain and body development, suggesting that active kids will generally experience positive physical effects, which, in turn, helps to boost mental well-being.
Some of the positive physical results of being active can include:
1. A healthy body, healthy heart, and healthy weight;
2. Improved coordination, posture and movement skills
3. Improved strength, agility, balance, endurance and flexibility.
Clark suggests that active, physically literate kids experience improved mental health and self-confidence, as well as better peer relationships and improved social skills. "They also tend to learn better in school because they are better able to concentrate and problem solve."
To help your kids enjoy being physically active, focus on creating positive experiences that are fun, age-appropriate and encouraging. For instance, limit the number organized or adult-supervised experiences, and encourage lots of lots of active play (indoors and outdoors).
Of course, it's not (always) just about the kids! It's equally fun (and healthy!) for parents to be regularly active, so don't hesitate to play or move with your kids at opportune moments, such as going on a nature walk or having a fun game of tag at the playground. In fact, you are your child's number one role model!