Here's why it is important for children to go out and play

Alisha Alam | Feb 5, 2019, 11:20 IST
Do you remember those times when you were a kid and no matter how tired you were after school, you'd grab lunch and then go out to play with your friends? Well, we don't see many kids doing that these days. The onset of technology has not just made adults anti-social, but it has also had a tremendously negative impact on the children of this generation. This is why most studies these days state that it is imperative that children head out to play with their neighbourhood kids.



A new study found that most parents who home-school their kids think that putting their children into organised sports and physical activities is enough to get them the exercise they need on a daily basis. However, what they don't know is that only organised activities can't help children. They also need some time for unstructured physical activities that they enjoy doing. “Parents know if they don’t see their kids breathing and sweating hard, then they’re not getting enough exercise,” said the lead researcher.



“So there should be more opportunities for unstructured activity. Get your kids outside and let them run around and play with the neighbourhood kids and ride their bikes.” As per guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), children need at least one hour of aerobic activity per day, however, children who are involved in non-elite sports don't get more than 20-30 minutes of physical activity per day. Well, this certainly goes to prove that parents need to encourage their children to go play outside more often. Stay tuned for more updates.

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