Playing is an essential part of childhood. It was more common back in the golden, phone-free days, with children rushing out to play every evening, and twice daily during vacations. With the advent of technology and smart devices, playtime has gone lower on the list of priorities of children, which is not a beneficial development. It is important to include playtime in your kid’s daily routine for a variety of reasons. Normal playing for 30 to 60 minutes daily, helps kids,
With so many benefits to offer, playtime is a must for children, especially younger kids. Shining bright among all benefits is a necessity that has increased in recent times, and it is a measure of adequate strength and stamina. Since most kids have a tiring daily routine full of school, tuition, extracurriculars, and some digital time, their minds and bodies have little scope to unwind and de-stress. While reading and painting relax the mind and improve imagination, sports aid physical fitness, but neither caters to both. Sufficient playtime bridges the gap here, combining the best of mental relaxation and physical activity. But can you use playtime to build physical stamina in kids? Read on to find out how.
Try choosing active toys for your kids to inspire them to try more physically challenging and outdoor sports. Buy them mini-cars, bicycles, roller skates, bats, balls, and footballs to get them out and about. This will ensure your child gets adequate physical activity while naturally building and improving stamina daily. Plan weekly game evenings with kids in the neighborhood or your child’s school peers to improve their social circle and performance.
One tough but necessary call that parents must make is to restrict and limit screen time for kids. Since the 24-hour day format was not made with smartphones and children in mind, their days have gotten shorter and more unbalanced. Schedule digital time into their day for an hour or two and restrict it for the rest. They can earn extra privileges or screen time by working on chores or meeting fitness and academic goals.
Make the focus of playtime fun and not stamina or fitness, at least initially. Your child needs to start genuinely enjoying the activity before committing to it, be it simply hanging by monkey bars, climbing trees, or playing a sport. Make sure playtime incorporates activities they enjoy and anything new you want them to try, like a new game or activity. If your kid likes playing with dolls or playing indoor games, begin by switching the set-up outdoors and then incorporating more active elements into the game, like doll races and treasure hunts.
Playtime can also become bonding time for you and your kids. Parents may often feel distant and unwanted as kids grow up and become their own individual. Maintaining a playtime family activity ensures some of it becomes a tradition for kids, even teenagers and adolescents. Be it playing paintball or rock climbing, try to set up space-friendly play zones at home to avoid discontinuations in the future. Not only will it improve their physical fitness and stamina but also give them a chance to learn several valuable life lessons from their parents.
Take turns picking activities for playtime. If your kid wants to play on the swing in the park, while you wish they climbed some monkey bars and practiced their pull-ups, do not push it. Instead, lead the way by doing it first. It will show your kids how brave you are while having fun and intrigue them to come over. Remember to maintain patience and let them choose when it is their turn. It will teach them to respect your choice when your turn comes, as well.
Obstacle races are a fun and easy way of boosting your kid’s physical stamina, strength, and fitness without going to the gym. You can try it in your backyard or out on natural trails. For backyard obstacle races, arrange flowerpots and other low-risk equipment to create various hurdles for a simple but challenging racetrack for kids. Time for the race and have fun with your kids. You can even make a day out of it with your friends and have winners and prizes for all.
Playtime is a wonderful tool to develop physical stamina and strength in kids if utilized correctly. So, give this guide a try and watch your kid’s endurance and energy levels soar while playing and unwinding.