15/06/2015
The 2015 National School Sports Week takes place June 22-26.
Organised by the Youth Sport Trust, this annual initiative is designed to encourage schools across the country to get involved in sports and physical activity.
Since beginning in 2008, millions of pupils from thousands of primary schools and secondary schools have taken part and enjoyed all the benefits that sport and physical exercise can bring.
But National School Sports Week isn’t just about encouraging participation. It’s also about championing and celebrating those who are already committed to getting healthy and active. Indeed, it’s become traditional during National School Sports Week to give congratulatory high fives to PE staff!
At Barracudas, we recognise the vital role that sports and physical activity plays in young peoples’ development. We are therefore committed to cramming our timetables with the sort of activities that’ll get your kids moving!
And it’s not all sports, either. Approximately 70% of children don’t enjoy sports, which is why our programme is filled with activities that, while not sport, are still physical enough to keep your kids healthy, happy, and energised.
So in honour of National School Sports Week, here are the 5 Benefits of Getting Active for Children:
1. Long Term Health Benefits – Exercise is good for you. If your children start exercising from an early age, they can benefit from a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, increased cardiovascular strength, strong bone and muscle structures, and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
2. It’s Habit Forming – The earlier you incorporate exercise into your daily life, the more likely it is to become a lifelong habit. If you educate children from a young age about the importance of staying active, and if you make it clear right from the start just how fun exercise can be, then they’re far more likely to commit to a healthy lifestyle in later life. It’ll just feel natural!
3. It Strengthens the Mind as Well as the Body – Exercise can improve a child’s memory through enhancing the brain’s metabolism. On top of this, it can lead to enhanced concentration, reduced anxiety, better sleep patterns, and an overall improvement in positivity and well-being.
4. It Improves Social Skills – Through participating in team sports, children can learn the sort of valuable social skills that could potentially set them up for life. Things like teamwork, leadership, communication, and the ability to think on their feet are essential not just for school, but also for everyday personal relationships and, potentially, future careers.
5. It’s What Childhood’s All About – Whether it’s sports or otherwise, the endless fun that comes from running in the sun with children their own age will form the sort of memories that your children will treasure for life.
One of the main reasons why it’s so important for children to stay active is that staying active is precisely what makes childhood possible.