School children, it may seem, have too much energy—energy that they can burn off by mingling in the playground and running around the house. Encouraging physical activity, however, does more for children than allow them to let out some pent-up energy. It could save billions in medical costs and lost wages in their adulthood.
2. School children, it may seem, have too much energy—energy that they can burn off by
mingling in the playground and running around the house. Encouraging physical activity,
however, does more for children than allow them to let out some pent-up energy. It
could save billions in medical costs and lost wages in their adulthood.
A study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health determined that
elementary school children in America can save up to $21.9 billion by participating in
moderate physical activity three times a week. Parents can contribute to this by
supporting their children’s baseball or softball endeavors, for instance.
Participate in a Renowned American Sport
Baseball and softball have long been popular sports in the United States. There’s no
better time to get started on these sports than in childhood. Sports, in general, help
improve fitness and motor skills from a young age, enabling children to develop and
retain those skills until they grow older. Sports also expose children to rigorous but
manageable training and exercises. As such, they get used to resilient and disciplined
practices that improve their physical health and capabilities.
3. Athletic skills are not the only abilities that children hone while training and playing
these sports, though. Whether they’re training for the Little League or for a local
baseball or softball club, they can also hone social skills and self-confidence through
exposure to other people and to friendly competition.
Encourage More Physical Activity among Children
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study shows that only 32 percent
of American children ages 8 to 11 engage in significant physical activity. They can avoid
losing billions in medical costs and lost wages in the future only if the number rises by
at least 18 percent, reaching 50 percent in total.
On top of this, exercise and physical activity have a positive effect on children’s mental
health. It makes them feel better about themselves and encourages them to develop
healthy habits that they will carry into adulthood.
That said, parents should support their children’s sport—whether it is baseball, softball,
or any other sport—to help keep them healthy and happy in the long run.
