Children, in their free time, should carry out activities useful for cognitive and emotional development, as well as to grow well and in good health .
For example, it is very important that they move, that they are outdoors, that they have the opportunity to socialize and give vent to their creativity.
Children's leisure activities: lots of movement
Children should be especially invited to move in their free time. Often, between school, homework, TV, tablet and console, they have an excessively sedentary lifestyle, and it's not good.
The World Health Organization has developed guidelines that provide precise indications on how much physical activity children should practice to stay healthy and prevent disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and even anxiety and depression.
According to WHO indications, all adolescents and children, starting from the age of five, should practice at least one hour a day of moderate to intense physical activity and do aerobic activity at least three times a week. Physical activity means not only the actual sport, but also the game that includes movement .
Obviously, physical activity should be encouraged even in the youngest, ie those under the age of five. Moreover, children should spend part of their free time outdoors, so yes to bike rides, explorations in the countryside and in the woods, trips to the sea, playing in parks and so on.
As for the actual sport, we should choose based on the child's preferences and physical attitudes; it is also advisable to avoid competitive activity in excessively early times.
Children's leisure activities, music
According to the results of a recent study conducted in the United States, studying a musical instrument helps the development of children's brains and is associated with faster cortical maturation, with positive results on motor function, inhibitory control, and the processing of emotions, the working memory, the ability to maintain high attention and the ability to make plans for the future. Even just listening to music helps brain development .
At what age can music be included in the child's leisure activities? If we refer to listening and playing music (clap hands, use simple instruments such as whistles, rattles etc.), you can clearly start immediately. Around the age of 6-7, however, it is possible to move on to the study of a musical instrument.
Leisure activities for children: books and reading
Children should read a lot and not just at school . Stories light, fun, age-appropriate; stories that stimulate curiosity and imagination ; stories that teach us to better understand reality; stories that can train emotions.
Our children are increasingly attracted by the stories told in images in films and TV series, but the treasure contained in the pages of certain books cannot be replaced by TV.
That is why we should read aloud to children who are not yet able to do it independently and continue with even the older ones, encouraging them to read independently, as soon as they are able to do so.
