WO Magazine Fall 2013 | Page 60

Fitness FEATURES Play is as important as eating, sleeping and exercise in a healthy lifestyle because it stimulates and relaxes our body and mind. Regular play helps develop creativity, supercharges learning, relieves stress and connects us to others. Regardless of your age, you need to give yourself permission to take breaks to play with joyful abandon. CHILDREN YOUTH TEENS YOUNG ADULTS In the early years, children need active play to develop fundamental movement patterns and to build their physical and emotional selfesteem. Simple skills like running, jumping, hopping, skipping, throwing, catching and galloping build the foundation for sports skills for a lifetime. When children experience play, they learn to enjoy the feeling of being active and that paves the way for a lifetime of healthy living. With the adolescent growth spurt comes uncertainty and confusion about how changing bodies move. Quick growth of arms and legs creates very long levers that are capable of producing a great deal of force and momentum. Most young adults will not continue with physical education after grade 9 (age 14 yrs) and many will not be talented enough to play on a sports team. With the end of required physical education and competitive sports, many of our youth disappear into a sedentary life at school and home. The focus shifts in our early 20s to career and to the search for a partner to share the exciting moments in life. Many young adults search for acceptance in a new circle of friends and being fit, healthy and active takes on new meaning. Many social events for this age group revolve around sports and activities like beach volleyball or zip lining, so being fit and active gives individuals the confidence to jump into exciting new opportunities with their peers. Collect all the kids from the neighborhood and host play days. Everyone has a blast while kids learn to appreciate their bodies and burn off some stored-up energy. 58 | whiteoaksclub.com | fall 2013 The gangly baby giraffe look makes teens self conscious about their appearance and also creates a perfect opportunity for injuries to bones and joints. Helping youth learn body control through active play, recreational or competitive sports promotes confidence and safety with growth. Hanging out with friends is a big part of social interaction for youth, so promote group activities to build a network of active peers. Finding active outlets for youth is critical to keep them engaged in their own health and well-being and away from the negative distractions of idle time. This is a perfect time to transition teens into a healthy lifestyle that may include new and diverse activities like hiking, skateboarding or off-road cycling to counteract the adrenaline rush that video gaming delivers. Playing hard physically in your 20s can do so much more than the bar scene can in helping young adults create a positive attitude that translates to success in other aspects of their social and work life.