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Physical fitness is an important aspect of child development as it helps in developing conditional and coordinative abilities. Physical activity is even more important in children suffering with medical complications like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Studies have found that these diseases can be better controlled by following a proper aerobic and anaerobic exercise program.
The best physical fitness center for children is their school. It is the foremost responsibility of schools to include physical education as a part of their curriculum. Team sports like football, basketball and hockey are a great way of developing camaraderie among children. However, one can also fulfill his daily activity requirement by means of other individual sports like athletics, swimming, cycling, dance, horseback riding and skateboarding, or any other activity depending on the interest of the child and it should never be ignored.
A typical physical fitness program for children involves four basic principles of exercise that include frequency, intensity, type and time. A child should spare at least one hour in a day for physical exercise. One should have a regular schedule for exercising. Intensity is a vital part of exercising. One should work harder when exercising. Vigorous workout for at least 3-4 days in a week is essential. Type of exercise depends on the need. Stretching exercise will increase flexibility while aerobic exercises are good for heart. For increasing muscle and building strength, one must practice lifting weights. One should gradually increase the number of times and the length of time an exercise is done.
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