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Kids must play more physical games

 

Raising healthy children in this digital era is proving to be a challenge. Children no longer knock off from school looking forward to playing physical games with their friends rather they are geared to watch their favourite TV shows or beat their last score in video, computer and other games found in electronic gadgets. Parents on the other hand make sure their children are always indoors caring less about what they do while at home. Listening to what parents say about their children always being inside the house, you will notice it has become another source of pride to have a child whose activities after school are restricted to TV and electronic games. By providing electronic gadgets and TV subscription, parents unknowingly discourage their children from playing physical games and interacting with peers. Other parents deliberately stop their children from playing with friends believed to belong to lower social classes and would rather have their children kept busy with other things than physical activities.

Soccer: An example of recommended sporting activities for kids
Soccer: An example of recommended sporting activities for kids

Dr Gerald Msukwa, ophthalmologist at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital said spending too much time on computer, TV or electronic gadget can trigger some ailments in children.

“Although not scientifically proven, but when children who already have eye problems stay glued to TV or computers, they likely have severe headaches usually triggered by too much exposure to TV.

“There are also fears that kids who spend too much time on electronic gadgets end up being short sighted but again science is yet to prove that,” said Msukwa.

Nutritionist Isabel Potani cited obesity and diabetes as some of the effects of childrens’ inability to indulge in physical games.

“In this era where children are fed with a lot of Junk food, the least a parent can is to encourage them to at least exercise a lot. Junk food does nothing but deposit a lot of sugar and fats in the body which with lack of exercises slowly triggers diabetes and other diseases like some types of cancers,” Potani said.

While discouraging giving of junk food to children, Potani urges parents to make sure their children exercise a lot to shed off unnecessary weight and stay healthy.

“Exercises not only excite the kids, they make them grow healthier too. Let children play as many physical games as possible if they are to avoid some diseases in their lives. Parents should make sure kids are active at all times while providing nutritious food.”

“Healthy intake and physical output should be a must for kids because even nutritious food intake without exercises is proving to be hazardous to lives especially kids,” Potani added. n

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