Written By: Prerna Mittra | Updated : April 3, 2024 6:26 PM IST
Knowing when to step back and when to step in can be difficult. Parents must gauge their children’s needs and guide them immediately without overstepping. This balance is crucial in fostering both independence and a sense of security.
It is no secret that playtime is important for children. But, these days, we see that most kids are glued to their phone and television screens in the name of recreation and down-time. This is not a healthy practice at all, because in the growing-up years, children need to go out and play with their peers for their overall development, and physical, mental and emotional well-being. According to nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, a minimum of 60 minutes of free play every day is important. But, children are not getting even this much physical activity and exercise these days. The expert explained in an Instagram post that this may be the reason that parents are seeing such a steep rise in cases of obesity, allergies and frequent illnesses in children.
According to Diwekar, teenagers and pre-teens -- between 5-17 years of age -- are spending as many as seven hours on their phones and gadgets these days. While the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of 60 minutes of free playtime every day till the age of 17, there may be additional benefits of increasing this duration.
The nutritionist said that regular physical activity can lead to:
Diwekar noted that there are some long-term, hidden benefits of exercising every day as a child. "Long term, it ensures [the child is] less tempted to get into drugs, alcohol and smoking, once they begin to experience the benefits of staying physically fit."
Parents can facilitate physical activity for children by doing the following:
Overall, exercising every day can keep children healthy by taking care of their immunity, boosting their good gut bacteria, ensuring they are safe from seasonal illnesses and common cold, cough and flu. It also ensures children learn to prioritise sleep by getting to bed at the right time every night.
