Children often take part in cardio exercise, such as running around, jumping, playing sport, and swimming, but these activities rarely focus on strength. Is strength important in children? Read on to discover the benefits.
Benefits of strength in children
1. Boosts physical development
Boosting physical development in children is important for many reasons and encouraging them to build strength is a big part of this. The benefits of physical development differ depending on a child’s age, but include improved motor skills, balance, flexibility, stamina, and endurance. Being strong can also help children to improve on their cardio exercise.
2. Great for wellbeing
Any exercise has a positive impact on wellbeing, both in adults and children. This makes strength important for everyone. Exercise and wellbeing are linked as endorphins (chemicals that make us happy) are released when we do something active, such as running, cycling, or playing. These feelgood chemicals provide a mood lift which boosts wellbeing. Building strength and taking part in other activities can help improve sleep duration and quality too – also vital for wellbeing.
3. Improves sport performance
Many children love to play sport, whether this is as part of their P.E. lessons, at lunchtime, after school, or during the weekends. Strength can help with speed, endurance, and stamina, all of which are important for successful sport performance. Building strength can also help to protect children’s joint and muscles, reducing the risk of them sustaining a sports injury.
4. Amazing health benefits
As with many types of exercise, those that build strength come with great health benefits that can help children enjoy a healthy lifestyle. These include:
- Reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity
- Strengthening bones and promoting good bone health
- Assisting in the maintenance of healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Taking part in even small amounts of strength training as a child can make this part of a routine they continue into adulthood, which is ideal for staying strong and healthy as they grow.
5. Increased confidence
Being strong can help boost a child’s confidence as they’ll be able to complete physical tasks and activities quicker and easier than if they lacked strength. At Ultimate Ninja UK, some of the obstacles are easier to tackle when children have strength to depend on, giving them the confidence to try different, harder obstacles and really challenge themselves and their fitness levels.
What is good strength training for kids?
When we talk about strength training for children, we’re not suggesting you need to purchase expensive equipment. In fact, simple exercises that use their own body weight, such as squats and press-ups (when performed correctly), are all that’s needed to help them build strength and benefit from the great advantages this brings.
A really fun strength building activity for children can be found at Ultimate Ninja UK, as our indoor course combines lots of great obstacles that require strength. Visit us today and discover why we’re loved by children and adults alike!