Have you ever wondered at what age a child should start running ? The truth is that everything related to physical exercise and children is a thorny issue for many parents. It is known that exercising can be very beneficial, but also that, being in full development, children have certain physical limitations.
The good news is that, far from what you might think, running is not a contraindicated physical activity for children . On the contrary, instilling in them the importance of exercise from a young age can reduce the chances that they will have a sedentary life when they grow up.
The only thing to keep in mind is that the fact that it is a healthy and suitable exercise for children does not imply that it should be done in excess .
Considerations about at what age a child should start running
There is no universal answer to the question of at what age a child should start running. However, a study published in the Canadian journal of dietetic practice and research showed that children who are fit before the age of five are less prone to obesity.
Specifically, these children tend to be in better shape between the ages of eight and eleven , compared to children who did not exercise before the age of five.
Does this mean that a child should start running before the age of five? Yes, it is what is recommended according to the results of the study. But it is important to understand that running is not the same as a physical activity than as a sport .
Running as a physical activity
Running as a physical activity is much more limited than as a sport. In fact, it is a very common practice in children of all ages, since there are many children’s games that require running .
In these cases it is easier for the duration and intensity to be limited . Therefore, physical activity can be monitored so that it does not negatively interfere with the child’s development.
In this case, the general recommendation is that the child does physical activity as soon as he is physically capable of doing it . Therefore, once the child is able to run properly and without assistance, it can be considered a good time.
Running as a sport
In contrast, running as a sport requires more careful evaluation by parents. In these cases, it may be necessary to wait for the child to pass the five-year-old barrier .
The sport is oriented towards competition, which is why its practice is notably more demanding than that of spontaneous physical activities such as games.
In this sense, sport is only recommended when the level of physical demand is moderate enough according to the age of the child . It should be evaluated that the selected sport does not imply an excessive physical load according to their physical condition.
Because the glucose stores of children and adolescents are smaller compared to those of adults, their physical resistance is lower . Therefore, they require workouts that are designed for them.
If this principle is ignored, there is the possibility that children will suffer developmental injuries . In addition, if the child suffers from asthma, bronchitis or heart problems, all sports are contraindicated without prior medical consultation.
References
- Birch, L., Savage, JS, & Ventura, A. (2007). Influences on the development of children’s eating behaviors: from infancy to adolescence. Canadian journal of dietetic practice and research: a publication of Dietitians of Canada = Revue canadienne de la pratique et de la recherche en dietetique: une publication des Dietetistes du Canada , 68 (1), s1.
