Photo by Mary Taylor
Physical fitness is critical for personal development. Through physical activities in storybooks like Mona’s Mitten, children can blend exercise and thinking.
Physical activity is a very important aspect of daily living. It is critical for everyone, especially if they want to have a long and healthy life. This means that, as early as possible, children have to be motivated to do physical activity and given ample opportunities to do so.
Aside from further enhancing the physical qualities of one’s body and elevating it to adequate physical fitness or beyond, moving around, burning calories, and working up a sweat are beneficial to the development of one’s mental and emotional aspects.
That is why a children’s book like Mona’s Mitten, a storybook with physical activities integrated into the plot, is a novel idea. Through the incorporation of instructions for physical activities and the promotion of movement, children are encouraged to move around and integrate physicality with the story while, at the same time, challenging their cognitive abilities by navigating how to interpret the instructions provided.
The Benefits of Physical Activity
The acquisition and maintenance of physical fitness are why physical education is a fundamental part of early childhood schooling. It is also why it is present in all levels of basic and secondary education (although there some changes are indeed necessary to provide better outcomes) in most educational systems around the world.
Of course, in the context of long-term development and attainments, the earlier a child begins guided physical activity and routines, the likelier it is that they have more consequential and beneficial outcomes in the future.
- Having an improved physique and developing motor skills. Through constant exercise, young children establish a solid physical foundation earlier than their peers. This means developing stronger muscles and bones, which reduces the risk of body deterioration early on when they reach forty. A solid physical foundation also means further avenues for children to do other activities that require strength, flexibility, and stability. There are also more opportunities given to explore and expand their motor skills, including grasping, manipulation, etc., which also helps children when conducting detail-oriented tasks.
- Learning to manage weight and maintain posture. Through daily physical activities, young children discover the importance of how to manage their weight and to maintain decent posture. These lessen the chances for obesity and other weight-related issues and counter the problem of childhood slouching that may persevere through adulthood. By strengthening the spine and acclimating the body to the correct stances, the chances of developing bad posture in the future are decreased. By burning the right amount of calories by adhering to a daily routine of exercise, children develop into adulthood less prone to disease and other ailments, especially ones related to the heart and breathing, like heartburn and asthma.
- Eliciting mental activity and better cognition. Although exercise has long been attached to the procurement of muscles, it is also tied to cognitive development. During exercise, certain parts of the brain involved with concentration and memory are activated, which in and of itself is a form of exercise for the brain. Adapting to frequent exercise also helps transform physical activity into something that is primarily pleasant and enjoyable, making it a valuable tool for coping with stress and decreasing anxiety.
- Developing self-esteem and socialization skills. For a lot of people, just adhering to a routine enhances self-esteem, especially when the exercise is more specific and specialized, like a sport. There is a reason why athletes are as charismatic as they are–being good at sports naturally lends to confidence and heightened self-motivation. By immersing yourself in physical activity, not only are the body, and the mind benefited, but opportunities for interacting with other people are made available too. Group exercise is a practical way of meeting new people and developing relationships.
