Are you wondering how much time your children should spend walking or cycling? Here are some reasons how walking or cycling can help children.In the earlier times, when there were no air-conditioned cars or school buses, children would walk miles just to reach school. Walking or cycling is a wonderful way to stay fit. Here are some benefits walking or cycling to children.
Benefits of Walking or Cycling to Children
Let us take a look at the health benefits of walking and cycling for kids.
Good Exercise
Walking or cycling is a great exercise for children instead of travelling by bus or car. Walking and cycling exercises the legs and keeps the mind fresh. Children can wake up early and enjoy the fresh air in the morning. It keeps the children active and healthy. According to researchers, kids who walk or cycle to show far better signs of alertness.
Children Get the Habit
There are many people who travel so frequently by bus or car, that they lose the habit of walking. One must never lose the
habit of walking. Building this habit early on in life helps the children in future also. Although sports are also important for kids, walking helps keep the body strong and supple. Parents can also join the kids and spend some quality time.
Enjoyable
Walking and cycling can be done with friends and it can fun for kids. It is enjoyable with friends. It is a great time for kids to bond with each other. It is the most natural form of
exercise. Kids get a chance to get to know each other very well and it can help to develop good friendship. After coming back, kids feel hungry and have a
healthy appetite.
Walking or cycling allows kids a good opportunity to meet the people in the neighbourhood and get to know the community better. Children who walk or cycle everyday enjoy a far better rapport with the people and children in the neighbourhood. They meet everybody in the morning and while coming home. Parents can also enjoy joining kids in this fun, effective and eco-friendly activity.
Eco-Friendly
Walking or cycling is a great way to reduce dependence on cars. As we all know, travelling by vehicles causes pollution, hence teaching kids the value of walking or cycling right from a young age will help them to become more concerned about environment issues. Kids should be taught the importance of keeping the air pollution-free.
Overall Wellbeing
According to teachers, such children show far greater interest and eagerness to learn in school. Walking or cycling is a fantastic activity and a wonderful way to stay healthy. It helps in the overall growth, development and wellbeing of children. Children are far closer to nature and they can enjoy the surroundings. Parents and children can both benefit from this activity.
In certain countries, there is a lot of traffic, hence parents should think twice before they send their kids cycling on congested roads. Although it is a good exercise, one must also keep the safety issues in mind. Modern society makes it difficult for kids to travel on congested roads, hence walking or cycling may not be a good option for kids who live in such areas.
Children who walk or cycle, soon begin to take interest in exercise and
sports. Such children are less likely to stay dependent on video games or computer games. Once kids get the habit of walking or cycling, they soon start enjoying the outdoors and want more of it.
What are the benefits of walking or cycling for children? How to encourage children to walk? What are the ways to inculcate the habit of cycling in children? Discuss here.