This lesson has given you an overview of the health benefits that physical activity provides. Part of your role as a school-age staff member will be to explain and teach these benefits to children. How could you deliver it in a way that is fun, interactive, meaningful, and appropriate? Use the chart below to record your planning ideas. Here's a reminder of the health benefits of physical activity taken from the lesson you just explored.

Physical Health

There is a clear connection between leading an active lifestyle and being healthy. For optimal health, school-age children should be physically active for at least 60 minutes each day. Along with a healthy diet, these guidelines help children:

  • 即兴表演ve cognition
  • Maintain a healthy weight and body mass index.
  • Achieve physical developmental milestones.
  • Maintain or improve blood pressure.
  • 即兴表演ve cardiovascular fitness.
  • 即兴表演ve posture and balance.
  • 即兴表演ve overall physical health.
  • 即兴表演ve sleep

Mental Health

Maintaining an active lifestyle will not only help achieve physical health and fitness but will also improve a child’s mental health. Sustaining an active lifestyle increases energy, helps children maintain a positive attitude, and helps them achieve other health benefits such as:

  • 提高自尊和信心。
  • Reduced stress.
  • 即兴表演ved social skills (especially when participating in team sports).
  • 即兴表演ved focus and brain function.
  • Reduced risk of depression
Health Benefit Planning Idea
Maintain a healthy weight and BMI (body mass index).
  • Have a local medical professional discuss the importance of a healthy weight.
  • Have a military recruiter or representative talk about the physical demands and go through some of the fitness test requirements for basic training.
  • Instead of being negative about body weight, share what benefits that come with each pound lost.