Vocational School of Justice
‘CHILDREN NEED SPACE TO MOVE AROUND’
The experts strongly believe that sedentary lifestyle, for kids, is one of the most important risk factors that threaten health especially during summer time. They indicate that such a lifestyle causes obesity, attention deficit disorder, and paves the way for diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke.
Hatice Ayan, Lecturer at Izmir University of Economics, Vocational School of Health Services, Physical Therapy Program, stated that summer holiday was a perfect chance for children to exercise and engage in sports activities. Ayan said, “Children should be encouraged to get involved in exercising and doing sports to spend their time most efficiently and have fun at the same time. Exercising and doing sports improve their physical and mental development and contribute to their school and social life.”
‘Doing Sports the Right Way’
Ayan stated that children get a chance to communicate and socialize with their peers through sports, and gain skills such as strategic thinking, self-confidence, and leadership. Ayan said, “There are pinpoints to start the right kind of sports based on age. Children are more prone to sports injuries compared to adults. Especially when they are in their growth spur, there is high risk of getting injured in joint cartilages since the growth plates are open to injuries. Therefore, in order to avoid sports injuries, they need to warm up. They also need to make sure they wear appropriate shoes and watch out for the surface they will do sports on.”
Ayan also warned that while doing sports muscles and bones on either side of the body should be worked out equally as failing to do so might result in spinal deformities or scoliosis (a sideways curvature of the spine).
‘Don’t Be Expecting Too Much’
Ayan pointed out the importance of letting children do the sports they want, and not to force them to do anything beyond their capacity based on their own expectations as children might get physically and psychologically challenged.