Health Benefits Of Walking For Kids
We all know that movement is a must for a healthy body, no matter how old you are. However, as technology continues to make life easier and more convenient, it also tends to result in more inactivity, even in children.
Encouraging kids to move is a great way to balance out screentime, and according to the experts, walks are an essential part of healthy development for kids.
Here are a few benefits of walking for your little ones:
Increased stimulation and learning opportunities
Walks can be beneficial even if the kids can’t technically walk yet! The mere act of heading out into a new environment is an opportunity to discover the world. Babies get to hear, see, smell, and feel different things from the comfort of their stroller seat, even if they can’t interact with the world around them yet.
Improved mental health
Research has proven that walking can improve mood and boost feelings of well-being. This applies to toddlers and children just as much as adults! These effects are amplified if the walk takes place in a natural, green space.
Better sleep patterns
Do the babies and toddlers in your care have trouble going to sleep sometimes? Try letting them burn off some of that energy during a walk. Regular physical exercise can improve sleep cycles as well as the quality of sleep that children get.
Strengthens children’s bodies
Walking helps build strength in bones, muscles, hearts and lungs. Research shows that even walks as short as three minutes can help improve the health and metabolism of children. All that arm waving babies do from the pram seat contributes towards strength building too.
Helps develop motor skills
Although the act of walking feels effortless to adults, it’s still a skill in progress for toddlers. A research study from Loughborough University reported that nearly 30% of four-year-olds are not physically ready to start school because they’re lacking in essential motor skills, such as the ability to hold a pencil or sit up straight. This is attributed to a lack of physical activity overall during the early years. Every walk improves balance, posture, flexibility and coordination.
Reduces risk of disease
Regular physical activity, such as walking, can reduce children’s risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and type-2 diabetes later in life. Keeping them moving throughout the day helps to build healthy bodies.
How To Manage Walks With Multiple Children
The beauty of walking is that it’s an all-inclusive activity that everyone can enjoy. You don’t need special skills, training, a gym membership, or special gear to experience the benefits of walking. You can do it anywhere, at any time.
However, it can be a little more challenging to get out the door if you’re caring for multiple children – especially if they are at different ages and you don’t have a support crew to help wrangle them all!
With a KinderPod multi-seat stroller, the task is much more manageable. Our strollers effortlessly transport up to six children of various ages. You can let the pre-schoolers walk with you while the baby (or babies) is safely secured in their pod seat. If the bigger kids run out of steam, they can kick back in their comfy seats for the return journey.
Even better, KinderPod strollers are versatile, so you can easily add or remove extra seats to suit your needs on any given day.
If you’d like to know more about how KinderPod strollers can help you and your children enjoy the benefits of walks, head over to our website to see for yourself.