Children, when born, come into this earth with their internal organs in perfect shape and functional efficiency (assuming it is a healthy child). For example, if you were to compare a child’s heart with that of a healthy adult, the former will be technically more sound and healthier than the latter. The rough lifestyles of our everyday survival on this planet will have definitely taken its toll on our vital organs, mostly to a point of no return. Having said that, having a god-gifted healthy body and mind does not necessarily mean or guarantee a healthy survival for a child in the years ahead. What holds he key is the health and fitness of the child as it grows up. The health is one such aspect that has to be nurtured carefully and systematically so that as the child grows older, his/her body and its immune system will become fully equipped to cope well with the challenges that life throws at him/her. In fact, this is exactly what all pediatricians preach and the core of the responsibility every parent has to shoulder when it comes to the healthy upbringing of their children.
The reasons as to why children need to be strong and healthy are multi pronged, to put it in a general perspective, as mentioned already, being strong in the growth phase lays a solid foundation for their healthier wellbeing as they grow up. More specifically, it is in the earlier years of childhood, in the age group 3 to 10, that the development of vital organs, the mind, muscles, bones, and the body as a whole take off. During this stage, it is very essential that a child receives all of the required nutrients, vitamins, and minerals so that his/her system matures in the most natural and balanced way possible. Even though, a person’s body continues to grow even past the age of 18, it is the younger years that are crucial and therefore requires more attention.
Another aspect that contributes to the strength of a growing child is the amount of exercise he/she receives daily. By exercise, what is meant is the physical activity from games and light sports that the child gets regularly, and not any gym sessions (gym exercise is only for adults). Studies show that for proper bone development, young children need at least 40 minutes of rigorous or high intensity play a day. Regarding sporting activities, anything from gymnastics and basketball to karate classes or soccer could provide these amounts of activity levels. It is the parent’s job to make the right choices of activities for their children based on their tastes and interests. Remember, forcing things on youngsters will not work.
Yet another factor that benefits from all of the above mentioned aspects is the immunity of the child. Childhood is a phase in everybody’s life when a yearly fever or similar ailment are quite normal. Being strong physically will ensure that the chances of a child contacting such illnesses minimizes substantially, if not being completely eliminated. Even though, it is true that having a bout of any number of common illnesses during childhood is good for developing immunity, some other degenerative illnesses such as goiter, kwashiorkor, and rickets can be completely prevented with good nutrition and healthcare.
The reasons as to why children need to be strong is that it helps them to live their childhood peacefully and happily, without any serious illnesses or health issues. Further, having in place a sound foundation on health and nutrition ensures that they will reach their adulthood in the best shape possible, both mentally and physically, and also as empowered human beings having experienced the essence and importance of child health and nutrition. In a way, it is this knowledge or realization that has the power to reform the world and the future generations. To know more about children’s health, see similar resources on the internet.
