Positive Effects of Exercise on Kids

We learn a lot of valuable lessons participating in sports. How to cooperate with & sacrifice for a team, how to win & lose graciously, how to give & receive constructive criticism and the value of setting a goal & working hard to achieve it. Some of the most valuable takeaways come from the time spent in practice; the process of preparation. While some sports require more physical demands than others, the constant pursuit of progress is consistent across the board. A strong case can be made that participation in SOME type of athletic endeavor can have lifelong positive benefits.

Not everyone will play sports, and that is totally fine. Some individuals are more inclined to music or art or academics and some families just don’t see the value in spending time having little Joey chase around a soccer ball. Each individual has his or her interests & strengths, and should be encouraged to explore them.

While not everyone feels the urge to play competitive sports, the positive benefits of using our bodies are obvious. Kids who are encouraged into physical activity (sports or otherwise) at an early age are more likely to exercise recreationally later in life. According to the National Institute of Health (1), physical activity has a direct relationship with positive self image. They also found that one’s perceived physical fitness directly correlates with both self-esteem & body image. Meaning if somebody THINKS they are athletic, they will feel better about themselves and have higher overall self-worth.

Aside from the psychological & habitual benefits of youth exercise, the physical benefits cannot be understated. More time using one’s body will lead to increased aerobic endurance, which will turn into improved cardiovascular & heart health later in life. A wide variety of physical challenges will improve an individual’s coordination, balance & flexibility, which can positively affect many aspects of later life. According to an article

from Dartmouth University’s Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences (2) there is a positive link between physical activity & overall memory performance. Harvard Health Department (3) reports that exercise has positive effects on growing new blood vessels in the brain as well as perseveration, and possibly growth, of new brain cells. They also comment on the positive impact physical activity has on stress reduction, mood & encouraging restful sleep, all things that can contribute to cognitive impairment if not managed. However they found that it takes up to six months for these positive benefits to begin to take effect.

So while not everybody needs to play on the baseball team, everyone would positively benefit from a consistent & structured exercise program. One focused on building self-esteem through the development of fundamental physical skills & fun, competitive games is the best way to fill this gap. In a day & age where screens are a constant in daily life, these lessons have never been more valuable.

Matt Zubak is the owner of Zubak Athletic Performance & Sports, a training program & facility focused on the development of foundational physical skills & habits. Based out of West Berlin, New Jersey, ZAP has been in business since 2016 and has seen over 1,000 youth athletes come through its doors, in addition to over 40 NFL players, Olympians, and 100’s of NCAA athletes. For more information on our training programs or facility, contact us by email at matt@zubakperformance.com or on Facebook or Instagram @Zubak Athletic Performance

1)Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016; 12: 2617-2625 2) https://pbs.dartmouth.edu/news2022/09/how-workouts-may-impact-your-memory

3) https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-can-boost-your-memory- and-thinking-skills