Health Tips > Prevention Plus > Sleep, Exercise and Nutrition Are the Secret to Childhood Fitness

Sleep, Exercise and Nutrition Are the Secret to Childhood Fitness

View All Section Pages

Sleep, Exercise and Nutrition Are the Secret to Childhood Fitness

We want to give our children all of the tools and information they need to succeed. But many times, it’s easy to forget that the key to learning is receiving and understanding information. It’s not just about the environment or the academics, it’s also about making sure that a child is capable of learning in the moment they are given information.

Research shows that a more fit and healthy child is a better student. Susan Campbell, PhD, CEO of The Cooper Institute®, shares how we can give kids the opportunity for a healthy future.  



Get Moving
Over the last 70 years we have worked very hard to make our lives easier and more effective. In doing so, we have removed a lot of movement out of our daily lives. For instance, many children no longer walk or ride their bicycles to school, and instead, they spend 35-40 hours a week watching television, playing video games or sitting at a computer.

But getting physical activity throughout the day isn’t just about good health, it also affects your brain. Physical activity directly correlates to learning. When a child has been physically active, their brain receives and retains information better. Therefore, when there are fewer opportunities for physical activity throughout the day, a child’s ability to learn is impacted.

You don’t have to be a physical education professional to make an impact. Teachers can use activities during their class to avoid long periods of sitting. Parents can encourage family activities such as going for a walk to the park. Try to limit the time kids are sedentary and replace it with activities that encourage movement.

Food is Fuel
Many of today’s children are not getting the nutrients they need. Schools are facing tight budgets, often resulting in quick, unhealthy lunch options. Parents are busier than ever, making fast food an appealing dinner option. But only providing kids with unhealthy food options will affect more than their waistline, it will also affect their ability to learn.

We know that a child will learn better if they are well fed and are getting the nutrients they need. The benefits of taking the time to make a few healthier choices, to support that, both at home and in the school, is incredibly worthwhile.

A Health Formula
Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH, Founder and Chairman of Cooper Aerobics, is passionately involved in the fight against childhood obesity. To help our kids Get Cooperized™, Dr. Cooper recommends the 8-5-3-2-1-0 formula:  

8: Get plenty of sleep – aim for eight hours
5: Vegetables – eat two fruits and three vegetables per day
3: Get three low-fat dairy servings per day
2: Watch less than two hours of “screen time”
1: Get more than one hour of physical activity
0 Almost none: Cut out sugar-sweetened food and drinks

All of us have to partner together, whether it is in school, in our home or our community, to encourage kids to be less sedentary. And most importantly, give kids the tools they need to be successful.

To learn more about The Cooper Institute and their programs for kids’ health, visit cooperinstitute.org or call 972.341.3200.
 

Article provided by Cooper Aerobics, Marketing and Communications.