Let’s start with defining ABCs, that stands for Agility, Balance, Coordination and Speed. These are important to develop fundamental movement skills so that the child grows well and can become a well-developed adult. Fundamental movement skills are foundation for active life, and the most common include running, jumping, throwing, catching, skipping, and hopping.
The four basic abilities of physical ABCs are required for children to access most of the sport and physical activities available.
Cambridge Dictionary says that Agility is the ability to move your body quickly and easily; Balance is the ability to remain standing, especially because your weight is equally distributed; Coordination is the ability to make your arms, legs, and other body parts move in a controlled way; and Speed is about how fast something moves. In physical ABCs speed refers to how quickly you can move your body or part of your body within a specific movement and require all previous three abilities of agility, balance and coordination.
What if we don’t focus on this?
Without movement there is a risk that a child is more likely to develop a sedentary lifestyle, to become a couch potato, and I’m sure no one wants that for their children!
Why do we tell you that?
We’re parents and see how important it’s for Gabryś to learn school’s ABCs of literacy and numeracy, and we also see how important physical movement is. It’s vital for our little ones to move and there are so many benefits of being active to back it up. Physical movement can:
- – Develop mobility,
- – Support improvement of memory,
- – Increase cognition,
- – Faster knowledge acquisition & higher test scores,
- – Increase self-esteem and happiness level,
- – Reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes,
- And the list goes on.
Recommendation:
The Chief UK Medical Officers’ Physical Activity Guidelines 2019 recommends that children from birth to 5 years should have at least 3 hours of movement per day. Older children and under 18s should aim for at least 1 hour of physical activity per day across the week in order to develop movement skills, muscle, bone and joint strength. Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity (increased breathing, able to talk) or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity (breathing fast, difficult to talk) activity per week.
Your Call To Action
Make a plan and follow through. Use whatever moves you and them, choose something you love doing and make a commitment to be an example for your children and train together! Now save the dates of trainings in your family calendar.
Remember that every move counts, both structured and unstructured play is great, so going for a walk is as beneficial as a football class,
Make sure you all sit less & move more, and that some is good, more is better. Hence get out and get active more often!
Keep training!
Kasia & Grześ
axeboomboom.org 