We all know that regular exercising at a young age is very important as it not only improve your child’s overall health, but also help them develop lifelong healthy habits. But do you know that stretching is equally as well? Stretching is a necessary step that every kid should do before and after exercising. By stretching, it can prevent your little ones from getting injured during the exercise. This is even more so important if your child plays sports, as sports can get a little intense at times. Therefore, as parents, it is important that you constantly remind them to stretch.

Why are Stretches So Important?

As mentioned earlier, stretching is a must-do step before and after a physically intensive activity. There are many reasons as to why we strongly advocate the need to stretch. The most important reason and advantage to stretching is that it reduces the risk of injury. When kids exercise immediately without warming up, it increases the likelihood of them pulling a muscle and sustaining an injury. Similarly, if they do not properly cool down after exercising, their muscles would not be able to recover as quickly and this increase the chances of an injury as well.

Stretching is also a good way to get your body ready for the exercise. This is because stretching increases the blood flow that is flowing to the muscles. This reduces the tension in the muscles, which will result in an increase in flexibility and an increased range of motion. Also, not only is stretching a feel-good exercise, but regular stretching at a young age will help to improve agility and maintain your child’s flexibility even as he or she enters adulthood.

What are the Stretches that Your Kids Can Perform?

There are many stretches that your child can easily implement in his or her exercise routine. Simple stretching exercises can include doing a gentle split and holding that position for 30 seconds. Do take not that this stretch should be done slowly and carefully to prevent injuries. Another stretch that your child can do would be for them to stand upright, and then slowly bend down and touch their toes while keeping their legs straight. This may be tough for some kids at the start as they may not be as flexible. For these children, what they can do is to gently place their hands behind their legs and bend down slowly, holding for 30 seconds. It will be good if your child can use a gym mat while stretching as a layer of protection.

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