How much exercise do kids need?

We all know our kids need to exercise! Moderate to vigorous exercise provides countless benefits, including:

• Exercise strengthens kids’ hearts, lungs, muscles, and bones, giving them increased energy and endurance.
• It increases blood flow to their brains, helping them concentrate and perform better in the classroom.
• Exercise boosts positive chemicals in kids’ brains that provide a sense of confidence, well-being and calmness.

Most experts urge kids get no less than 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity daily exercise, which can be attained throughout the day: walking to and from school, participating in after-school activities and team sports, or simply dancing around the house.

It’s also important that kids get different types of exercise, each of which should be done at least three days each week:

• Aerobic exercise like running, vigorous walking, swimming, and biking.
• Muscle-strengthening exercise like climbing, gymnastics and games like tug of war.
• Bone-strengthening exercise from sports like tennis and basketball.

Check out this illustration of What Counts as Exercise to help your kids choose and mix-up their daily physical activities. Feel free to use it to encourage fun and healthy exercise for your child – and yourself!