publication date: Jun 29, 2007
Unlike adults,
children don’t experience the
fatigue barrier in exercise and so they can easily
overdo it.
The
smaller a child is, the
greater is the ratio of
surface area to
body mass. For children
skin area is 40 per cent
greater than for adults. Therefore there are problems of heat loss and over-heating while they are exerting themselves.
Children don’t have the
mechanism which stops
overheating and
dehydrating which can lead to
dizziness and
collapse. Even children out on a walk,
trotting along beside their parents can be at
risk. If a child says he’s
thirsty he is already
dehydrated.
What most
parents don’t realise is that
mechanically children’s bodies are not as
efficient as adults. Kids need more
oxygen in exercise. They are not using
carbohydrates but are using up
fats and these are an
inefficient fuel. Because of this parents should
listen to children who are usually very
accurate in describing their
physical condition. Therefore if a child says he’s
tired or
hot or that he wants to
slow down then he should be allowed to.
On the other hand, a child who is
trying to impress may continue doing something even when
exhausted. Adults should make sure children
take breaks and don’t
overexert themselves. Once they have been through
puberty they begin to become
adults physiologically.
When your child is doing something
energetic or participating in a
team game make sure:
- drinks - water is best - are on hand;
- a piece of fruit for an energy boost is available;
- clothing is worn in layers so some can be removed easily;
- sun protection is worn when playing outside - UV rays can be just as harmful in springtime and autumn;
- any instructor or adult in charge is sensitive and doesn’t humiliate a child by telling him he doesn’t run fast enough or is useless at catching a ball. Many children are put off exercise for life after such treatment.
Overweight kids
These children don’t
exercise enough and are
disinclined to exert themselves. Fat or
obese children don’t have a
problem with cold but they do
overheat.
They will stop
exercising sooner than their
leaner peers and must be
encouraged gently into exercise and should
never be ridiculed or made to
feel bad about themselves.
Swimming is ideal as it exercises the body
without straining it and needn’t be
competitive - you can suggest he tries swimming so
many lengths in a certain time and
improve on this gradually. Give him plenty of
praise.
Increasing
exercise and
activity levels is the best way to help children
lose weight and
feel good about themselves.
