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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Girls
• Teenagers

Summary

Like adults, kids need exercise. Most children need at least an hour of physical activity every day. Regular exercise has many benefits for children. It can help them:

• Feel less stressed
• Feel better about themselves
• Feel more ready to learn in school
• Keep a healthy weight
• Build and keep healthy bones, muscles and joints
• Sleep better at night

As kids spend more time watching TV, they spend less time running and playing. Parents should limit TV, video game and computer time. Parents can set a good example by being active themselves. Exercising together can be fun for everyone. Competitive sports can help kids stay fit. Walking or biking to school, dancing, bowling and yoga are some other ways for kids to get exercise.

Start Here

• How Can I Help My Child Be More Physically Active? (American Heart Association)
• Kids and Exercise (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Physical Activity for Children: An Overview (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: 2nd edition (Department of Health and Human Services) - PDF

Related Issues

• CDC Healthy Schools: Physical Activity Facts (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Compulsive Exercise (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Dehydration (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Everyday Ideas to Move More (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
• Fitness for Kids Who Don't Like Sports (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Helping Your Child: Tips for Parents and Other Caregivers (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
• Motivating Kids to Be Active (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Fitness and Your 13- to 18-year-old (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Fitness and Your 3-to 5-Year Old (Nemours Foundation)
• Fitness and Your 6- to 12-Year-Old (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Exercise for Children (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Youth Sports (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: The Daily Mile reduces depressive and anxiety symptoms in school-going Ugandan...
• Article: Relationship between different levels of internet use and depressive tendencies in...
• Article: Efficacy of education outside the classroom to increase adolescent physical activity.
• Exercise for Children -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Definitions of Health Terms: Fitness (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)

Children

• BAM! Body and Mind Classroom Resources for Teachers: Physical Education and Physical Activity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Fitness (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
• Why Exercise Is Cool (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Girls

• Types of Physical Activity (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)

Teenagers

• Compulsive Exercise (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Easy Exercises for Teens (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Sports and Exercise Safety (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Take Charge of Your Health: A Guide for Teenagers (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
• Why Exercise Is Wise (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish