Aerobic exercise is movement that gets your blood pumping faster around your whole body. It makes your heart beat faster. It also makes your lungs take in more oxygen. This causes you to breathe faster during the exercise.
Aerobic exercise is important for kids. It helps keep their heart, lungs, and blood vessels healthy. It can also help them keep or get to a healthy weight. Kids who exercise tend to have:
Better heart and lung fitness
Lower levels of body fat
Stronger bones and muscles
Fewer symptoms of depression
Better chances of being healthy adults without chronic disease
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that kids get 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. They advise that aerobic activity should make up most of those 60 minutes.
Kids should make sure to get vigorous aerobic activity on at least three days a week, says the DHHS. What does that mean? Moderate aerobic activity means your child’s heart will beat faster than normal. He or she will breathe harder than normal. With vigorous activity, your child’s heart will beat much faster than normal. He or she will breathe much harder than normal.
Age makes a difference with aerobic activity. With kids, their aerobic ability can get better during and after puberty. Also, kids should do things that are fun and help them learn skills. Help your child pick activities that they will enjoy and want to stick with. Below are some examples of activities that can suit kids of all ages.
These are examples of good activities for children:
Games that involve running and chasing
Hiking
Jumping rope
Karate
Riding a bicycle
Rollerblading
Running
Skateboarding
Sports such as hockey, basketball, swimming, or gymnastics
Walking
These are examples of good activities for adolescents:
Canoeing or kayaking
Cheerleading
Dancing
Games that involve running and chasing
Gymnastics
Hiking
House and yard work
Ice skating
Jumping rope
Karate
Riding a bicycle
Rollerblading
Running
Skateboarding
Skiing or snowboarding
Sports such as baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, hockey, or swimming
Walking
These are examples of good activities for teens:
Aerobic exercise classes
Canoeing or kayaking
Cheerleading
Dancing
Gymnastics
Hiking
House and yard work
Ice skating
Jumping rope
Karate or other martial arts
Riding a bicycle
Rollerblading
Rowing
Running
Skateboarding
Skiing or snowboarding
Sports such as baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, hockey, basketball, football , fencing, badminton, or swimming
Walking