Importance of Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us to stay inside at home and sit down more than people usually do, which has impacted the regular physical activity or movement of the people. The Heritage School, which is the top school in Dehradun, believes that it is crucial to be active as much as possible, especially at a time like this. Take a short break in the middle of the day or after every 2 hours if you are sitting continuously for a more extended period. Do a light intensity physical activity or movement such as walking or stretching for better blood circulation and muscle activity. Doing regular physical activity improves bone and muscle strength, whereas, in the case of older people, regular exercise has proved to help in preventing falls and injuries.

Exercising reduces blood pressure, proves beneficial for type 2 diabetic patients, stroke, helps manage weight, and reduces the risk of heart disease – the conditions that can increase the susceptibility to COVID-19. World Health Organization (WHO) recommends physical activity for all the age groups as per the following specifics.

Infants Under One Year of Age: Infants should be physically active several times a day, and for those, not yet mobile, include at least 30 minutes in a prone position.

Children Under Five Years of Age: All young children should devote 180 minutes a day to exercise, and 3-4 years old children should spend at least 60 minutes of this time in moderate to high-intensity physical activity.

Children and Adolescents Aged 5-17 Years: The people in this age group should do at least 60 minutes a day of moderate to high-intensity physical activity for at least three days per week. Doing more than 60 minutes of physical activity per day provides additional health benefits.

Adults Aged Over 18 Years: People over 18 years of age should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-high intensity exercise or physical activity, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity throughout the week.

The Heritage School, ICSE school in Dehradun, recommends all the families to take care of their physical health by doing regular physical activity and encourage each other to do exercise as a part of daily routine.

Source: WHO.int

Talking about COVID-19

Your kids are hearing about COVID-19 more and more every day. The parents should be willing to talk and should make sure that they receive reliable information. The probability is that they must have already heard something. It’s essential to know that being silent and keeping secrets from your children about the current situation is not going to be good for them. So The Heritage School, ICSE school in Dehradun, shows you simple ways how to talk about it with your kids.

Be Open and Listen

Allow your child to express his views and statements on the subject without any interference. Then, ask them questions to check how much do they already know and whether the information they know is correct and reliable. 

Be Honest

Your child is growing and he is intrigued by every single thing happening around him, and will supposedly have a lot of questions. As parents, you need to sit down and answer the questions honestly. Always share information based on the age of your children and how much information can they possibly digest.

Be Supportive 

Build such a rapport with your kid which makes him/her comfortable talking to you when they are scared or frustrated or simply going through some stress. Always show support by giving them that much-needed space to share how are they coping with stuff happening around and let them know you are there for them.

Share Reliable Information

There are a lot of stories going around, and it is easy to get caught up in every piece of information you hear or see. Some might not even be true. Pick information from trustworthy sites like WHO and UNICEF.

Concentrate on the Positive

Rather than scaring off your children by telling them the current mortality rate, share with them the data of the people who are recovering from this pandemic. They will cause less stress as you shift their focus to the positive side of things.

End on a Good Note 

Check up on your kids if they are fine and coping with the situation well. Remind them that you are there to talk and motivate them to talk about whatever is putting them off emotionally. Engage your kid in fun activities like cooking, playing, gardening, etc.

It’s natural to feel intimidated by so much information flowing through TV, social media, newspapers, etc or even questions asked by your children. It’s okay to not know all the answers to questions your kids ask you. It’s fine to simply say, “We don’t know and we are working on it”. Use such opportunities to learn something new from your child. The Heritage School, the top school in Dehradun, encourages parents to seize this opportunity to get more connected with their children.

Source: who.int