Active kids who engage in physical activity experience various physical and mental health benefits, including an enhanced mood.
Now, a new study out of Norway has found that the mood-boosting effects of exercise can last for years in children.
The study, published in the February 2017 issue of Pediatrics, followed nearly 800 children between the ages of six and eight and their physical activity patterns over two years.
Exercise boosts kids' moods long term
Lead author Tonje Zahl and her team at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that children who engaged in moderate-to-vigorous exercise were less likely to show symptoms of depression two years later.
Although the effect of exercise on depression was not huge, the study suggests that increasing children's moderate and vigorous physical activity may prevent later depressive symptoms.
The study did not conclude that a lack of physical behavior predicted depression in kids or vice versa.
However, Zahl encourages parents to get their children moving by letting them play outside with friends, enrolling them in organized sports, and reducing sedentary activities like video gaming.
According to the author, not much physical activity, especially the kind that requires high energy, happens indoors.
However, decreasing sedentary time, such as watching TV or playing video games, may lead to more opportunities to engage in physical activity.
This increased physical activity may, in turn, lower the risk of developing depression for active kids and help them live happy lives.
Fun and effective ways to keep kids active
Parents can get creative when finding fun and effective ways to keep their kids active. Here are some recommendations from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia:
Organized sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, and dance are all great options. Choose an activity that your child enjoys and is motivated to participate in.
Family activities: Go for a bike ride, hike, or take a walk in the park as a family. This promotes physical activity and allows quality time spent together.
Exercise videos: Many exercise videos are available online geared toward kids. These can be a fun way to get moving together.
Outdoor play: Encourage outdoor playtime with friends. Activities like tag, hide-and-seek, and jumping rope are all great options.
How much exercise do children need?
According to Kids Health, for school-age kids and teens ages six through 17, the recommendation is 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily.
This includes muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activities at least three days a week. This can include organized sports or activities like running, biking, or swimming.
Preschoolers should engage in active play throughout the day, although a specific amount of time hasn't been defined.
A reasonable target could be three hours each day of light, moderate, and vigorous activities. This should include both unstructured free play and planned, adult-led physical activity.
Children under three years old are not included in these guidelines, but other countries, such as
Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom recommend that toddlers be active for at least three hours daily.
This should include light activity, active play, and energetic movements like hopping, running, and jumping.
By encouraging your child to be active every day, you're not only promoting their physical health but also their mental well-being.
Exercise has been shown to have long-term benefits for children's moods and improve self-esteem.
