Better Brain Development
Physical activities force the brain to develop new neural pathways,
improving cognitive functioning. Even better, the muscle memory your
child masters through bicycling will help her establish brain
connections that will also make it easier for her to master unrelated
sports.
Finally, bicycling requires planning. From listing the bicycle gear she
needs to mapping out her daily bike route, your child will master
spatial reasoning and advanced planning skills, both of which improve
cognitive development.
Cardiovascular Exercise
Cardiovascular exercise is exercise that elevates your heart rate and
works large muscle groups. This type of exercise can burn off lots of
calories, reducing your child’s risk of obesity. It also improves
circulation and lowers blood pressure.
If
heart disease runs in your family, biking could be your child’s answer
for preventing future problems. Cardiovascular exercise also improves
endurance, and for particularly rambunctious kids, it can help burn off
excessive energy.
Increased Strength
In addition to the cardiovascular exercise your child gets from biking,
she’s also strengthening her leg, hip, arm and abdominal muscles. Strong
muscles promote good overall health, decrease your child’s risk of
obesity and can help her perform well in other sports.
People
with strong, well-developed muscles are also at a reduced risk of
exercise-related injuries and suffer from less pain. Moreover, a strong
child is a child with good self-esteem, who feels confident around her
peers and who can quickly escape or defend herself if she’s ever faced
with a threat.
Bike for Improved Mental Health
Physical activity is correlated with better mental health. In fact, some
research indicates that regular exercise is as effective at treating
depression as medication. If your child struggles with depression, low
self esteem or anxiety, bicycling could be the solution to a happier,
healthier outlook.
Regular
exercise releases powerful endorphins that can help your child feel
better about life. And, of course, when your child feels better, life
with her is easier and you’ll feel better too.
Better Sleep
Regular exercise is strongly correlated with healthy sleep patterns. If
your child is a ball of energy who can’t sleep but who then struggles to
get up every morning, bicycling may be your ticket to a healthier, more
regular sleep schedule. Better sleep, in turn, is correlated with
better overall health and can even improve mental health.
Perhaps
most importantly, biking is fun! A variety of studies have demonstrated
that play is vital for a child’s development. While she may seem to be
biking like a maniac, she’s actually learning.
Regular
leisure activities benefit your child and you in a variety of ways, so
don’t hesitate to get your child that much-coveted perfect bike!
Remember that, no matter how much fun biking is, it does pose some
dangers, so don’t allow your child to bike alone, and always ensure she
wears a helmet. The brain benefits of a bike won’t count for much if
your child gets a head injury.
Christobel Edwards
became a grandmother two and a half years ago for the first time.
Although keeping quiet is difficult for this marketing maven, she’s
learning to let her child and grandchild make their own decisions. She
loves buying things for her grandchild and can’t wait to buy her her
first bike.
