Are Trampolines Good For Kids?

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Posted by admin | Posted in Kids' Health | Posted on 21-02-2011

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You may have noticed that there are more and more trampolines appearing in gardens close to where you live. It seems that trampolines have been selling well over the last year or so. In this article we look at the question of whether they are actually good for children.

When we buy games, toys and equipment for our children we tend to look at a variety of factors. We usually want something that will be fun for them to play with. Equally, it’s important that the products are safe – we don’t want them coming to any harm.

Do we also consider whether or not a particular game will be good for them? This may be something that we don’t give enough consideration too. It’s particularly important when it comes to their health and fitness. After all, we don’t want them having to deal with obesity, a lack of fitness and the associated health issues.

In order to look at how useful trampolines are, let us examine these three factors: fun, safety and health.

Fun is probably the easiest to answer. Anyone who’s ever seen children playing on a trampoline will know that it is great fun. In fact, the freedom that’s enjoyed is similar in many respects to another great favourite: bouncy castles. Kids see trampolines as being an exciting activity and one that they want to try again and again.

How about the issue of safety? This is one area where you will need to think carefully. Are your children going to be safe using a trampoline? If you’re worried then there are a variety of accessories that you can use to help. The most common idea is to make use of trampoline to create a protective layer around the main trampoline.

If your children are young then you might also use small, specialist ladders – these can help them get on and off the equipment.

How about the third factor? Are they good for health and fitness? When you compare them to something like playing video games, or watching television, it’s clear that trampolines allow and promote a far higher level of exercise.

It’s a combination of all of these factors that helps to explain why both kids and parents love trampolines.

How Video Games Affect Health

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Posted by admin | Posted in Kids' Health | Posted on 08-02-2011

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Concerned about the effects of video games on your kids health? Or perhaps you’re just curious about this stuff or need to research it for a paper. Below you’ll find the information you’ll need on this topic with links at the bottom for further reading.

This whole article is about how video games affect people’s health in general. The general positive and negative effects on health are the main topic of discussion.

Positives of video games Effects on Health

Let’s start with how video games have positive effects on your health.

The strangest of the positive effects of video games can be seen in the healthcare sector. People (especially youngsters) who are undergoing painful treatment for ailments like cancer can use video games to distract themselves from the pain for extended periods.

Video games have positive psychological effects as well. Certain games that are used as part of a comprehensive program can further help autistic children and other children with developmental disorders.

Studies have also shown that playing video games can improve mental faculties, such as hand-eye coordination. More intelligent games such as strategy and puzzle games can also improve problem solving, and provide intellectual stimulation as well.

Negatives of Video Games Effects on Health

There is a wide range of reported negative effects of video games on health; however the actual evidence of games directly causing certain negative effects is very weak. Other negative effects are usually due to prolonged excessive play of video games. Parents concerned with the amount of time their children spend on video games should encourage them to balance the time out with other activities. Extremely adverse effects such as hallucinations are very rare and could be caused by other unknown factors.

People who are susceptible to epileptic seizures and photosensitive individuals could experience seizures when they see rapid flickering or rapid screen changes happening in the game. The amount of play doesn’t matter much, as people who are prone to seizures could experience one after even a few minutes of play.

People who live a sedentary lifestyle (poor exercise, rather inactive) and do mostly sitting activities such as playing video games usually suffer from some sort of ailment later on in life, such as heart and muscle problems and obesity. This is usually combined with a poor diet, such as genetically-modified foods and junk food.
There is also research that suggests that there is a link between violent games and increased aggression, however the research is rather limited and usually does not take other variables into account such as upbringing and environmental conditions.

Conclusion

Video games have both positive and negative effects on health. The effects however vary immensely depending on the types of games played and the frequency of play. Certain adverse effects can be caused by other factors in conjunction with excessive play of games, but can usually be corrected by living a healthier lifestyle. The positives of the effects of video games on health also vary depending on the type of game played and its frequency.

Wii and Fitness – Is There a Connection?

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Posted by admin | Posted in Fitness | Posted on 26-10-2009

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Is there any connection between video games and fitness? For a very long time, video games were criticized for preventing children from exercising and becoming fit. Children spend hours in front of the television and do not move around as much as they otherwise would. However, the makers and marketers of Wii have claimed that this video game helps improve fitness of each and every person who uses the console.

As you would know, Wii is a handheld device that helps you play games in virtual reality mode. You can manipulate the game in your hand by moving the console and watching the changes reflect on your screen.

In theory, using Wii to do fitness exercises makes sense. However, research has indicated that majority of individuals who purchase the Wii do not get adequate exercise. Children are an exception. Hence, if you are planning to combine your video gaming sessions and fitness sessions by opting for Wii, you should keep in mind that this may leave you with many hours wasted playing video games without any improvement in your fitness.

There is no denying that the Wii and other such games help us have a sharp brain and quick reflexes. However, you will have to perform your exercise regimen strictly if you want to remain fit at all times. At best, you can use the Wii console to perform some aerobic exercises like swinging of the arms etc. Do not expect any drastic improvement due to the use of video game consoles.

Children’s Health Tips – Advice on How to Keep Your Kids Healthy

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Posted by admin | Posted in Kids' Health | Posted on 22-06-2009

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Todays children are becoming more and more unhealthy, statistics show that the problem is reaching epidemic proportions. Childhood obesity is costing governments billions and the price on the childrens health and mental state is even higher. It is the duty of all parents to know how to keep their kids healthy.

Most modern parents are hard working busy people who just don’t have the time to cook different, freshly prepared meals every single night for their family. With the cost of living rising constantly, parents are finding they have to work longer and longer hours just to pay the bills. As a result of this, children’s diet and health is neglected, and groceries are bought with two things in mind, price and convenience. Kids are left to entertain themselves, which usually means watching TV, playing video games or the internet.

Things have to change or we will find in the not so distant future, that our children will die before us. They need to get back to eating fresh fruit and vegetables, healthy proteins such as fish and chicken, and start getting more exercise and fresh air.

The best way to get your children to eat the healthy fruit and vegetables they need is through smoothies and shakes. You can create any recipe you need in minutes without spending a fortune, and you can even sneak the odd green vegetable in there and they will never know. Freezing them and creating ice pops is also a great fun way to get them to enjoy it. The possibilities are endless.

As for the exercise, well sometimes that will take some of your precious time, but your child’s health and future is more important than anything. Just nipping down to the local park to play soccer or a little bike ride is all it takes if done regularly. And sometimes, when you really just don’t have the time, you have to make your child go out and play. It may sound a little harsh, but it’s a whole lot better than playing video games for keeping them healthy and fit.

Vitamin D Levels in Kids SO Low That Rickets is Back!

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Posted by admin | Posted in Kids' Health | Posted on 05-06-2009

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Kids get so little Vitamin D these days, that Rickets- a disease that was thought to be virtually eradicated over 50 years ago in developed countries – is back again. Rickets, with it’s characteristic bowed legs from improper bone hardening, is caused by a simple nutritional deficiency. Yet children right here in the US are getting this easily preventable disease in numbers never thought possible. Vitamin D, which is naturally present in few foods except for Fatty Fish like salmon and sardines, is made naturally when the skin is exposed to sunlight. But Rickets became prevalent during the Industrial Revolution in England when the already weak British sun’s rays were blocked entirely by the incredible pollution in the air.Scientists were able to make a synthetic form of Vitamin D and quickly began fortifying milk products, solving the rickets problem for good- or so they thought. But now, rickets is back…

Dr. Laura Tosi, bone health chief at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington says, “I am now treating rickets in a way that I never treated it 20 years ago,” Possibly even more alarming is a new epidemic where bone formation in children appears normal, but is actually much softer than it should be. As such, girls today break their arms 56% more often than their peers did 40 years ago- and boys break them 32% more often! A long term Study on the Bone Health Study of US Children is now being done in response to this phenomenon- and researchers are concerned that widespread osteoporosis may be waiting for this younger generation in adulthood.

But why is this happening?
There is no one answer to that question. But the recommendation of most dermatologists to keep children out of the sun for fear of skin cancer is one reason. The widespread use of sunscreen that effectively blocks the UV rays that allow the skin to make Vitamin D is another. Children’s increased time indoors watching television, playing video games and computer usage is another reason. Not only does being indoors keep children out of the Vitamin D making rays of the sun, but it also keeps them from doing the essential weight-bearing exercises like running and jumping that encourage young bones to grow denser and stronger.”Physical activity increases growth in width and mineral content of bones in girls and adolescent females, particularly when it is initiated before puberty,” concluded one study.Other studies estimate that children and teens, due to poor dietary choices, get 20% less calcium than is recommended. So the problem is compounded by the perfect storm of:

Not enough Vitamin D,Not enough Calcium, andNot enough ExerciseVery Long-Term Effects
While these studies are focusing on the possible osteoporosis that these children may be getting later in life, other researchers are concerned about other, less well known effects that low Vitamin D levels may have on these children later in life. Dr. Cedric Garland, who has been researching Vitamin D for over 20 years, states, “We estimate that we could prevent 75%of cancers by getting everyone’s Vitamin D Blood Levels into the 40 -60 (ng/ml) level.” There has also been much research into Vitamin D for diabetes and heart disease prevention. An analysis of several studies even claims that sufficient Vitamin D levels can reduce “All cause mortality”, a claim that is somewhat like the “holy grail” as drug research is endlessly in the quest of a patentable drug that can make this claim.

While Dr. Garland and other researchers like Dr. Robert Heaney and Dr. John Cannell have been urging higher Vitamin D levels for years, governments have been slow to respond. With the Official Recommended Daily Intake of Vitamin D unchanged in over 50 years despite the mounds of evidence of the benefits of higher Vitamin D intake -our youngest generation may be the ones who are going to be suffering from our governments turning a deaf ear to the cries of researchers worldwide.