While many of us are still sheltering in place and learning has gone remote for the rest of the school year, May has always been a big month for the team at Ladybug for Girls. This is when we would typically celebrate National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Though it might look a little different this year, we believe that education is power, so learning about life sports is essential whether we’re at home or school. Let’s take a look at physical fitness, encouraging girls to play sports, and how to be more active while staying at home.

The Benefits of Physical Fitness

We all know children need physical activity to grow healthy and strong. But what are the benefits exactly? 

• Stronger bones: inactivity can cause a loss of bone density.
• Avoiding obesity: when calories aren’t burned, they’re stored as fat. 
• A healthier heart: the heart is a muscle and a lack of exercise puts stress on the heart. 
• More energy: exercise improves circulation and helps them focus and concentrate.
• Stronger muscles: this helps their body grow strong and even aids in the prevention of injuries. 
• Stronger lungs: increased lung capacity and more oxygen are good for the heart and brain. 

Physical fitness also reduces the risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and even some types of cancer. 

Playing sports one of the most popular ways for children to increase physical activity. It also gives girls the social and collaborative experience of working on a team, which will build long-term skills that can carry them throughout their lives. 

Preparing for a Return to Interaction

We understand that a lot of team sports are off the table right now. There is still so much we don’t know about how COVID-19 is spread and the effects it has on different people. That means your girls can’t begin new sports or gather to play those they’ve enjoyed already. This can be a struggle for you as a parent and for your daughter’s experience as well. 

What we do know is that eventually, when it’s safe, we can return to a more normal routine. It still may look a little different than it did before, but sports will eventually resume in some form or another. 

In the meantime, encourage your girls to stay connected to their friends and, in the case of team sports, their teammates. Make sure they still engage in physical fitness in the home and when it’s safe to be outside. You can also encourage them to continue learning about their favorite sport by reading books about players or watching documentaries. 

Life Sports

While your girls may be unable to play team sports right now, there is a category of sports that’s perfect for the current situation. They are what is known as life sports. They include:

• Golf
• Tennis
• Yoga
• Dance
• Running 
• Swimming

Some of these will be easier to do at home, so you may want to focus on developing these skills and interests now. Life sports are activities you can start at an early age and carry throughout a lifetime. Yoga, dance, and running can be done independently, so while you’re at home you can provide your girls with a foundation in these activities. 

Sports and Physical Fitness Safety 

Of course, we can’t talk about physical fitness without also talking about safety. We are all well aware of the risks of certain sports. Even soccer, which many girls start playing at a very young age, has a risk of associated injuries. We also know that if your child rides a bicycle, they must wear a helmet and other protective gear. 

The life sports we mentioned above are all very safe sports, but with any level of physical activity, there is always a risk of muscle pulls or strains. So how can you girls be safe while engaging in physical fitness? 

You should always encourage your girls to: 

• Perform warm-up and stretching exercises before engaging in any activity
• Avoid sports and other physical activity if they’re hurt or injured
• Wear any necessary protective gear at all times
• Follow the rules of the game that are enforced for safety

Even though this year’s Sports and Physical Fitness month looks very different, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we can still take time out to learn about staying healthy through movement. How will you celebrate Sports and Physical Fitness Month in May with your girls?