Quite often, when our children return from afternoon play, they
look exhausted, and ready for a nap. That is the most accurate
description, and quite the truth. Play is hard work. It is
exhausting to the mind and body of the young person, and plays
an extremely important role in helping them to become
productive, healthy citizens.
The role of exercise and play in a young child's life provides
them with many benefits. Exercise of the body is an important
part of keeping the young body fit as it grows into an adult
body. When we reach adulthood, if we have had the benefit of
exercise and play, we tend to continue that habit into our adult
years.
What else is to be gained from the opportunities that play
affords? We often participate in organized sports, coordinated
play times, and are a member of a large group during all of
these activities. Play on this level teaches us how to interact
with our peers, develop camaraderie and perform as a team with
other players. These skills are absolute necessities in today's
business world. But what else is happening here, during this
time of play and exercise?
What we learn in body language, coping skills, and the
interaction of the mind and body during our interaction with
others, is invaluable. When we learn these skills well, we not
only learn how to interact with others, we learn how to interact
with our self. Interact with our self? That seems like a
pointless exercise, but it is an all important part of
maintaining our health and wellness. There are times that our
bodies try to tell us things about our physical or mental
condition, and we simply refuse to listen. If we have learned
how to listen to others around us when they attempt to point out
a need or desire, we have a useful tool in listening to
ourselves.
This often can mean the difference between optimal health, and
creating an unhealthy situation. What else do we learn? We
learn what our physical and mental limitations are. During play,
you see children and young adolescents push themselves to the
very limit. But as children, we are better able to distinguish
between a real limit versus what society deems our limits. As a
child, or young adult, the pressures of the world do not weigh
on us as they do when we are adults.
We are better keepers of the temple at ten, than we are at
twenty. We are still very in tune to what our body tells us,
because it is our true master as a child. As an adult, we have
let outside influences master our body and mind, and dominate
our time.
As you can see, the benefits to be gained during our exercise
and play time as children, is a benefit to us for the remainder
of our lives. Too often, we adults forget the importance of
exercise and play and the principles that are to be learned from
time spent in these activities. We want to rush our children
into their daily responsibilities, forgetting that their chief
responsibility during the younger years is the play and
interaction of young minds.
About the author:
Tony Robinson is a CEO and Webmaster. He has a young family and
a keen interest in health and fitness. Visit his site at
http://www.be-well-and-fit.com
