The importance of physical activity in childhood.
Aug 26, 2020
Nowadays, in addition to the topic of nutrition, the practice of physical exercise is very popular, one might even say "in fashion" (and what a good fashion it is!).
Every day we are bombarded with news, suggestions and updates about physical exercise, and we know that it should be part of our lives from childhood. Therefore, we thought it relevant to share a little about this topic with you and include some testimonials (at the end of the text) from professional athletes of different sports about the importance, and how, the practice of physical exercise from a young age has impacted them.
According to Carlos Neto in an interview with the newspaper Observador, nowadays “ Children have less coordination capacity, less spatial perception capacity, they actually have less pleasure in using their bodies in exertion, they have difficulty playing in groups, in having the possibility of having those games that are part of their age. At the same time, the school has become very institutionalized. Today we have children sitting for long periods, there is no effective and adequate policy for school recess. Recesses are often organized according to a work model, or a pedagogical operating model, which has more to do with mandatory or useful pedagogical learning, and much less with activities of the body in movement. (...) We recently conducted a study here at the Faculty of Human Movement on the independence and mobility of children. In 16 countries, Portugal appears in tenth place. We have a mobility index far below that of northern European countries. We have a good climate, a level of security that is one of the best in Europe, we have very interesting nature and culture, and we are wasting it.” that possibility.
Therefore, we can conclude that physical exercise is essential for the physical and cognitive development of children and should be part of every child's life.
Furthermore, as we can see, physical exercise doesn't necessarily mean that children attend extracurricular activities like soccer, tennis, or swimming, and that simply giving them some freedom to play, jump, and run already constitutes physical activity. However, studies show that participating in physical activity, whether in a team or not, helps children develop other physical, social, and civic skills, but nothing speaks better than professional athletes to tell you about this. We leave their testimonials here.
TESTIMONIES
“ I’ve always exercised since I was a child, and it’s always been what I’ve enjoyed doing most. Not only for my health, but also because it taught me so many values, a way of being, and it helped me forge friendships that will last a lifetime. Today I am a professional volleyball player. ”
TIAGO VIOLAS – PROFESSIONAL VOLLEYBALL PLAYER FOR SPORT LISBOA E BENFICA
“ There are many ways to grow, but being part of a group activity is undoubtedly the best. Learning to share, organize, respect commitments, work to evolve, and strive for personal goals is, I believe, the most complete way, combining it with the well-being of our bodies through exercise. ”
HUGO TAVARES DA ROCHA – FORMER PROFESSIONAL HANDBALL PLAYER
“ The goal of physical activity is to improve people's health, but above all, to provide well-being. Through it, I learned to control stress, increase my productivity and, in a way, boost my self-esteem .”
FRANCISCO FABIÃO – PROFESSIONAL VOLLEYBALL PLAYER FOR LEIXÕES
“ Participating in a sporting activity, volleyball in my case, allowed me to mature and grow more quickly, both physically and mentally and socially. It instilled in me values that are very present in sports and that are extremely important for life in society and in the community, such as helping others, being resilient, being hardworking, etc. In short, I believe that sport has made me a better man and a better person! ”
Ivo Casas – Professional Volleyball Player for Sport Lisboa e Benfica
" The practice of physical exercise should be approached with joy, not as a chore. Only then will the goals be achieved. "
TIAGO BRITO – PROFESSIONAL FUTSAL PLAYER FOR SPORT LISBOA E BENFICA
" It is increasingly proven that a healthy lifestyle only brings benefits to our health, and physical activity contributes greatly to this! Furthermore, as an athlete, you are perfectly aware of how important sports are in our lives! From a young age, it educates and disciplines children, turning them into better and exemplary adults! "
PAULO MORENO – PROFESSIONAL HANDBALL PLAYER FOR SPORT LISBOA E BENFICA
" Sport has always been a part of my life. It taught me moral values, perseverance, and above all, the concept of priorities. Balancing university, club, national team, and family has made me the person I am today, and I can only be grateful. "
MARIANA FERREIRA LOPES – PROFESSIONAL HANDBALL PLAYER FOR THE PORTUGUESE NATIONAL TEAM AND THE GERMAN TEAM THÜRINGER HC
