
Did you know the National Health Service in the UK recommends people between the ages of five and 18 get a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous intensity activity daily?
Meanwhile, the CDC says physical activity benefits kids in various ways. Better brain health, improved performance in school, muscular fitness, heart and lung health, bone strength, cardiometabolic health, and healthy weight maintenance are among the many benefits.
According to one source, kids eight to 18 spend an average of 7.5 hours daily–or 114 days a year–in front of screens for entertainment purposes. That’s way too much time sitting around. Considering the drawback of not engaging in sufficient physical activity–such as obesity and other health problems–it pays to get kids hooked on fun physical activities.
Running is one physical activity to introduce your kids to. It might take some getting used to if your kids don’t get a lot of physical activity. But the benefits warrant getting your kids to give it a try.
Here are three benefits of getting your children into running so they can get physical activity and have some fun while doing so.
1. Running is a Load of Fun
One reason to get your kids into running is that running is fun. It’s something that many kids love to do naturally unless they have mobility issues that hinder their movements. Running plays a role in many activities–from hide and seek to tag, from track and field to soccer, and from softball to dodgeball. The bottom line is that running is something that many kids already do as part of other day-to-day activities.
But getting them to run around a track, the block, or when out enjoying nature can take things to the next level. As long as they don’t overexert themselves, they can have a load of fun while staying fit.
2. Running is Inexpensive
Another benefit of getting your kids into running is that it’s a relatively cheap activity that won’t break the bank. To start, all they need is a good pair of running shoes and clothing suitable for the activity. There’s a good chance your kids already have what they need to get started, which means you won’t necessarily have to spend anything right away.
If your kids get the running bug and want to get better at it, you can encourage them to join a club or team at school or elsewhere.
Children who take running especially seriously might be interested in a teen-focused program like the Swiss Running Challenge. It’s an opportunity for teenagers who enjoy running, want to improve, and get a kick out of traveling and seeing the world. Taking place in Lucerne, Switzerland, the event is for teens aged 15 to 18 and involves a total distance of around 50 miles to 75 miles at elevations of 2,320 up and 2,980 down. It’s an option should your kids get really into running.
3. Running Will Improve Your Kids’ Performance in Other Sports
As was mentioned earlier, getting your kids into running will help them with other sports and activities that involve running. If they’re into soccer, basketball, football, volleyball, swimming, or some other activity, running will help with aerobic conditioning, strength development, and even endurance improvements.
Running will help with so many other things. So, whether your children realize it or not, getting involved in running has far-reaching benefits.
As you can see, your kids can derive many benefits from running. Getting them involved early in life may increase the chances they’ll stick with it. So, it can become a long-term or even life-long passion. One way to get them started is to join them. Make running a fun family activity to plant a seed in your kids that grows and flourishes.