The Positive Effects of

Physical Activity on Children

Andrew Mendes

Tasche Bryant

January 2018
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Introduction

One in three children in the United States is obese or overweight totalling over 3 million.

This is easily preventable by simply exercising. The reasons for the obesity numbers to be so

high is because of all the technology kids have now. They would rather play on devices then go

outdoors. If children exercised or played for at least an hour a day, it could benefit them in

numerous ways. It help their development, their behavior and helps them academically as well.

Increasing exercise through recess, physical education, and encouraging outdoor play would

benefit children with better physical health and brain development.

Background

It is a fact that children today don’t get enough exercise. The same problems the United

States is having with kids and lack of exercise can be found is England as well. ​A campaign

group called Play England, revealed that​ ​“In the late 1970s, 90 percent of children walked to

primary school. Today it is only 10 percent.” (​Children 'No Longer Enjoy Playing Outdoors​)

.That's an 80% decrease. Walking to school might not seem like much but it really helps in

reaching the 60 minutes of play or exercise required per day.

When kids don’t exercise and live an unhealthy lifestyle, it can lead to obesity. In an

article written by Allie Bidwell about kids in the US falling short on exercise, he says “Obesity

has more than tripled in adolescents in the least 3 decades” (​Bidwell.​). Since the 1980’s, obesity

has also been increasing in adolescents. In 2010, more than one-third of adolescents were

overweight or obese.
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Causes

​A big part of why kids and teens are not exercising and playing outside is because of

recent technological advances. In a study done by UMKC School of Education’s Edgar L. and

Rheta A. Berkley Child and Family Development Center,“Children are bombarded with new

entertainment mediums, from more established tech like TV and film to cutting edge games,

social media and mobile phones. There are more diversions than ever to occupy the minds and

time of children..” (​Exercising with Your Kids)​. Today children would rather watch tv and play

on the computer than play outside. The ​study also says, “​By the time they are 8-10 years old,

most children spend nearly 8 hours a day using various media. That statistic jumps to 11 hours of

electronics a day for teenagers” ​(Children No Longer Enjoy Playing Outdoors). Electronics is

clearly affecting the youth in a negative way because of the way it circumvents their exercise.

What is considered a good day of exercise for kids is if they get at least an hour,

however, most children are not getting at least an hour of moderate or vigorous exercise each

day. One simple reason is because of their parents. The Telegraph published an article where an

expert stated that “​one in seven parents admit they do not feel fit enough to play with their

children outside while eight per cent say they are too embarrassed” (​Children 'No Longer Enjoy

Playing Outdoors​). Due to parents being embarrassed or lacking the knowledge of the

importance of physical activity, their children are missing out on much needed exercise, Also,

some p​arents do not have enough money to place kids in sports and afterschool programs​. A

report done by Mathematica Policy Research written by ​Finkelstein, Daniel, et al. ​states “Parents

said it was difficult to afford fees for participating in organized activities such as sports teams

and classes, as well as gear and equipment that children often outgrow quickly.”(​Finkelstein,
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Daniel, et al.​) Kids are missing out on sports and afterschool programs, places where they can

get their hour of play because their parents can’t afford it. ​Parents are not willing to spend money

on their kids exercise because things such as rent, food and clothing take priority​.

After School programs are a key place for kids to get their exercise, but according to

NPR, President Trump is cutting funding:“In his budget for next year, President Trump wants to

eliminate nationwide after-school programs for low-income children, called 21st Century

Community Learning Centers.”(​Wright​) meaning 2 million kids might be without a possible

outlet for exercise.

Also , The NPR article also says, “the number of children left alone after the school day

ends has risen to 15.1 million children (26 percent) – an increase of 800,000 children since the

2004 edition of the study.” That 15.1 million kids who are inside their homes after school

instead of being in an environment where there are other kids to play with. If President Trump

cuts more after school programs, that number is only going to increase.

Effects of Lack of Exercise

If kids don’t exercise one of the possible effects is becoming obese or being overweight.

Kid Casters states, ​“Having childhood obesity leads to obesity in adulthood”. Also it will be

more severe as an adult (​Childhood Obesity​)​. Exercise might not seem important, but such a

simple thing can affect your life greatly.

When children are obese it leaves them at greater risk of having the following: Higher

risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, among other health issues (​Kid

Casters​). Therefore if the number of children that are obese decreases, then number of children

having these health issues will go down as well.

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Apart from having a negative impact on health, not exercising also ​affects how kids

brains develop. According to an article in “Help Kids Get Fit”, Children who stay indoors most

of the time grow up lacking cre​ativity and miss out on other skills to.​(Help Kids Get Fit)​.​ The

Telegraph interviewed a doctor who focuses on Children's health and he said, ​“that modern day

children are missing out on vital experiences because they do not spend enough time having fun

in the open air and may become dysfunctional adults” (​Children 'No Longer Enjoy Playing

Outdoors​). Not exercising or playing outdoors will affect them in the long term therefore we

encourage outdoor play. ​In the article, Helping Kids Get Fit, it says “This decline in creativity is

thought to be due at least in part to the decline of play”​ “Children who play outdoors are more

likely to develop relationships with other children, and their social skills improve as a

result”(Help Kids Get Fit). If they are playing outdoors they are most likely playing with other

kids and building on social skills. ​. Not exercising hurts their creative outlets and doesn’t let

children express themselves.

Section 1: Physical effects of Exercise

​ In today's society children are suffering physically from poor health due to lack of

exercise. One of the most prominent issues caused by lack of exercise is obesity. According to

the CDC ,“In 2011-2014 for children and adolescents aged 2-19, the prevalence of obesity has

remained fairly stable at about 17% and affects about 12.7 million children and adolescents.”

(Cote AT). 12.7 children is a relative high number, therefore in order to lower the 12.7 million

obese children we need to establish the root of the problem which is lack of exercise and address

it.
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Obesity is one of the bigger problems that occurs in children when they don’t exercise,

but it is not the only problem. According to a website put together by the former first lady and

her staff, Michelle Obama, “Let’s Move”, “Physical activity is an essential component of a

healthy lifestyle. In combination with healthy eating, it can help prevent a range of chronic

diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and stroke, which are the three leading causes of

death.” (Chamberlain) The health problems stated above are more likely to happen to kids who

do not exercise. Fortunately, simply making your child play for 60 minutes a day can prevent

this from happening to your child.

A recent article written by Rebecca Kennedy says, “​The National Trust research showed

that children are playing outside for an average of just over four hours a week. This compares

unfavorably with 8.2 hours for their parents when they were children.​”(​Kennedy). Most people

grew up playing outside.Technological advances have stolen the attention of children. All over

the world TV, ipads, ipods, iphones and other smart devices keep kids from going outside and

playing. That doesn’t only hurt them physically, but it also affects their development.

Section 2 Social Development

Exercise is crucial to kids' social development. ​Children need to get outdoors and play for

at least 60 minutes a day to stay healthy and keep their health from deteriorating. Parents need to

attempt to limit a child’s time on devices that might keep them from exercising.

Children in older generations loved playing outdoors while at home, in school, or during

recess, but now it is difficult for parents to get their children to play outdoors. According to an

article published by Telegraph,“​While 72 percent of today's parents preferred playing outside,

only 40 percent of today's children would swap time in front of the TV or computer for outdoor
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play. Experts say that modern day children are missing out on vital experiences because they do

not spend enough time having fun in the open air and may become dysfunctional adults.”(​Brief

Bursts of Exercise Benefit Kids ​) In a time where new technology is constantly being developed

and children's attention is getting eaten up by “screens”, now is when schools and parents should

be pushing their children them to exercise.

Recess is one of the only times children get to run around and play during the school day.

In a time when there have been tons of budget cuts to physical education classes around the US,

it is crucial that we extend, or at least keep recess, for the good of the children. A journal written

by the American Educator​ “The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has a 2013 policy

statement titled“ Crucial Role RecessinSchool,”describes recess as “a necessary break in the day

for optimizing a child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.”(The American

Educator) Cutting recess will not help kids at all. Children want to run, jump and play and recess

is one of the only outlets they have to do what they are naturally programmed to do.

What is most important is that they get some type of exercise, and for most kids, it’s

playing outside.​ ​“​Children who play outdoors are more likely to develop relationships with other

children and their social skills will improve as a result. Children who stay indoors most of the

time, on the other hand, are more likely to engage in solitary activities that don’t allow them to

stretch their social muscles. Technology is a poor substitute for social interaction in the “real

world.”(Kids Caster)​ Outdoor play is crucial for a child’s development. Parents should cut the

time their kids spend looking at screens and encourage them to run around doors and play with

other kids.
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Section 3 Brain Development

A lot of who we are today comes from how we were throughout our childhood because

that is directly tied to your development.Valerie Strauss of The Washington Post writes, ​“​Play is

a remarkably creative process that fosters emotional health, imagination, original thinking,

problem solving, critical thinking, and self-regulation.”(​Exercising with Your Kids​). Going

outside and playing helps your child develop properly like the article written by Kid Caster,

organization partnered with Nickelodeon says, ​“​Screens simply can’t compete with real people

and things when it comes to creativity and brain development.” ( Kids Caster). Playing is

important to kid brains, it helps them do better and stay focused more in school. For example in a

New York Times article Gretchen Reynolds wrote about a study done in Illinois by researchers

at the University of Illinois. In the study they had 220 kids and split them into two groups of 110.

One group was the control group and the other was going in buses to the University for the after

school program for two hour sessions of play and exercise. At the end of the nine month program

the researchers found out t​he “children in the exercise group displayed substantial improvements

in their scores on each of the computer-based tests of executive function. They were better at

“attentional inhibition,” which is the ability to block out irrelevant information and concentrate

on the task at hand, than they had been at the start of the program, and had heightened abilities to

toggle between cognitive tasks.”(Reynolds) That program is proof that if children exercise it can

help their brains and help them in the classroom. That is what is needed in schools throughout

the country.

P​hysical activity is important for children’s brain health and development because it

helps particular thinking skills that most affect academic performance. The book Spark tells the
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story of Naperville Central High school, a high school in Chicago where they don’t have a

regular gym class, but the class focuses more on fitness, not the sport itself. The USA does not

do very well when it comes to the TIMSS( Trends in International Mathematics and Science

Study) test, a test designed to compare students knowledge levels from different countries in two

key subject areas. Naperville students finished first just ahead of Singapore (​Ratey)​. This

suggests that a good physical education systems for students can help kids focus and do better

academically and socially.

During exercise or play there is actually a chemical reaction that occurs in the brain.

According to the Fast Company newsletter written by Leo Widrich he says, “The increase of the

BDNF proteins in your brain acts as a mood enhancer. The effects are similar to drug addiction

one study found.”​(Widrich)

The more children play/exercise, the more protein builds up in their brains putting them

in a better mood. They are less likely to be depressed or end up having low-self esteem.

There is a lot more to play and exercise than just the physical aspects. It also affects the brain in

numerous ways. It can lead the child to be more creative and enhance their mood by building up

the BDNF protein in their brains.

Counter Argument

With more than 3 million US kids overweight or obese and with that number said to be

on the increase, some believe that physical Education classes don’t work. Some say they are

overspending on a program with under qualified teachers​ (​Widrich​) ​and the programs don’t help

the children. They want to cut the programs out completely and put the money towards other

areas. There is evidence that proves otherwise, like for example in the book Spark, written by
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John J. Ratey, he writes “If kids exercise and raise their heart rates it helps with math scores and

reading comprehension”(Ratey). Therefore they are wrong in saying Physical education classes

don’t work. Schools just need to find a way to make Physical education more about exercise to

get the kids’ hearts rates up to help them in their classes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we need to encourage children to exercise more by giving them this

opportunity through recess, gym classes and after school programs.​ Lack of play will hurt them

both physically and mentally and hinder their development.​ ​If children don’t play outside and

exercise it can lead them to become dysfunctional adults. ​Being outside can lead to a lack of

creativity. “This decline in creativity is thought to be due at least in part to the decline of play”

(Strauss). It hurts their creative outlets, and lack of exercise hurts them physically leaving them

with the possibility of being obese or having other health problems. Kids playing outside fosters

emotional health, imagination, original thinking, problem solving, and critical thinking. That's

why playing and exercise is truly important and beneficial for children and they should be

pushed to do more of it.

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