THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE
Researchers warn that
we are raising a generation of children who are lazy, inactive and overweight. Western children spend up to five hours a day
in front of the television or computer, with an additional 15 hours on the weekend - an alarming statistic if you bear in
mind that brainwaves measure a lower activity level when watching television, than when sleeping. Physiotherapists say that
up to 90% of children who are treated by physiotherapists have low muscle tone and no neurological problems.
As toddlers, they simply did not roll, climb and clamber enough. Teachers report that children battle when learning to
write, due to an underdeveloped shoulder girdle. Further research, indicates that the Achilles heel tendon of children are
generally shortening due to a lack of activity.
In past generations, physical development was part of a natural
process. Children spent free time playing, maximizing movement and development. Our modern sedentary lifestyle with its technological
advancements of computer and television, is not doing our children any favors.
Apart from being passive when
watching television, the flat surface of a computer or television screen lacks dimension and distance - crucial components
for the development of normal vision. Optometrists say that more children are becoming near-sighted at an early age because
they are not developing the eye muscles that focus on varying distances.
Today, children have to be enrolled
in a sport-related program to ensure that they have ample opportunity to develop an interest in physical activity.
THE VALUE OF SPORT
PHYSICAL ABILITY
Sport plays a crucial
part in the development of children as it provides children with the opportunity to enhance and refine overall body condition,
gaining quality and quantity of movement. Without good muscle ability, a child's academic ability is inhibited - the child
with weak fine motor coordination will take longer to learn to do skills involving the use of hands, like writing and may
not be able to finish exams on time.
LIFE SKILLS
When utilized as a positive
learning tool, sport provides children with an opportunity to improve confidence and social acceptance. As competence increases,
confidence will grow and positively affect all aspects of a child's life. Participating in sport should be a fun and rewarding
experience which enhances a child's life: setting clear goals, persisting when you fail the first time and working together
as a team are all important lessons learnt on the sports field.
WHEN SPORT BECOMES
NEGATIVES
The highly competitive atmosphere that prevails in sport has a negative impact on sport
participation. If there is pressure to win, children do not experience the important fun element of sport. Young children
are not emotionally ready for the demands of severe competition and may drop out of sport altogether.
Apart
from experiencing feelings of inadequacy and suffering from low self-esteem, children feel socially inept and lose out on
the opportunity to address development issues in a fun, sporting environment
