CHILD'S PLAY MORE THAN FUN -- IT'S HEALTHY, K-STATE EXPERT SAYS

MANHATTAN -- Encouraging physical fitness in children can be as easy as child's play, according to David Dzewaltowski, head of the department of kinesiology and the Kansas Health Foundation distinguished professor of community health at Kansas State University.

Active child's play, such as a game of tag, riding a bicycle or playing at the park, is a good way to help kids meet recommended daily fitness requirements, Dzewaltowski said. Play also suits children's fitness needs well because they like to play and they play in spurts throughout the day, he said.

"Kids should accumulate about an hour's worth of activity every day," he said. "And for at least three days a week, kids should take part in activities of a vigorous nature for about 20 to 30 minutes."

Play is not only good for kids -- but parents, too. Dzewaltowski recommends parents share some play time with their kids, such as a game of touch football or one-on-one basketball, for the fitness benefits and as a way to promote healthy behaviors in their children.

"The image in America is that we've got a big fitness movement, but most Americans are sedentary. More than 60 percent of Americans don't meet minimum activity guidelines," he said. "We've created an environment today that is making it more difficult for kids to play actively. Many kids watch TV or play video games after school instead of playing."

Being active doesn't mean constant aerobic exercise, Dzewaltowski said. "Being active can mean things like gardening, walking the dog or working around the house. It's also OK to be active all day. But if you're not used to it, you have to build up to it. That's true for both parents and children."

Play time also doesn't have to be structured. Dzewaltowski said some structured activities kids are involved in, including competitive sports, may offer too much time sitting around or standing in line rather than being active.

Dzewaltowski also cautions that some fitness activities adults enjoy are not appropriate for children. For example, weightlifting is not highly recommended for children because it is too easy to do inappropriately, he said.

"Parents should not necessarily place an adult fitness model on children," he said. "Many places, such as hospitals and fitness centers, are offering fitness classes for children. But we know that 50 percent of adults drop out of fitness classes within the first six months. After two years, few adults are able to adopt the habit of going to fitness classes regularly.

"Parents and children may be better off developing lifelong interests in activities they can enjoy, such as bicycling, outdoor hiking, golf or active fishing."

Nutrition and age also play important roles in a children's fitness levels, Dzewaltowski said.

"Children's activity levels are tied to diet. Not eating enough nutritious foods to match caloric expenditures can lead to health problems, as well as poor eating habits," he said. "Age also can be a factor in activity levels. While most kids at the elementary school are active, children tend to become less active by the time they enter middle school or high school."

One reason for the lower activity rates at the secondary level, Dzewaltowski said, is that secondary schools often emphasize competitive sports which limit participation to a select few.

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Prepared by Beth Bohn. For more information contact Dzewaltowski at 785-532-6765.

August 1999