PETALING JAYA: With growing concerns about children leading a sedentary lifestyle, parents are trying to get their children involved in physical activity as early as possible to improve their quality of life in the years to come. Nur Hidayatul Husna, 28, sends her 3-year-old child to the school. She is a girl taking swimming lessons.
She said she believes parents should play an important role in shaping their children's futures, not only providing their daughters with an active lifestyle, but also that such activities have health benefits for their daughters. It will also bring life skills and life skills, he added.
She added that as a mother, she was concerned about the effects of frequent use of devices on her daughter, which could reduce her physical activity.
“I still allow my daughter screen time, but I also plan on making sure she has plenty of outdoor activities, including swimming lessons,” she said.
Noor Hidayatul added that she lets her daughter play in the garden to exercise her motor skills.
Personal trainer David Eng Hart, 39, said ensuring an active lifestyle for children requires more than just a good physical environment.
The father of three said a healthy lifestyle should be exhibited by similarly active adults, including parents.
“Parents must lead by example. There is no point in scolding the child if the parents themselves have little physical activity,” he said.
Muhammad Nazim, 30, said he was already planning to sign his 3-month-old son for golf lessons when he gets older.
“We're going to involve him in a lot of our activities and sports, one of which is golf,” he said.
He also expressed hope that outdoor activities will be further integrated into the education system to promote physical mobility, especially among primary school students.
Fitness expert Jonas Tan, 31, said being physically fit from a young age will definitely contribute to a better quality of life in the future.
“My concern is that…adults today are experiencing some form of physical, mental and psychological distress, clearly due to a lack of fitness.
“Most of them will say they lacked physical activity when they were younger.
“Based on statistics, children with insufficient physical activity are likely to experience a similar decline in quality of life,” Tan added.
He extolled the many benefits of physical activity, saying it will not only improve your energy levels throughout the day, but also increase your self-esteem and confidence, while also allowing you to take better care of yourself and your loved ones. .
Last year, then Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said four out of five Malaysian teenagers were not physically active.
Meanwhile, the 2022 Physical Activity Report Card for Children and Youth in Malaysia released by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia found that the physical activity and health of Malaysian children between the ages of 5 and 17 is not satisfactory. It turned out that a result of “D'' was obtained.
The report card references data collected from national surveys and government reports from 2016 to 2022, and measures overall physical activity, participation in organized sports, active sports, and active transportation. It mentions 12 indicators including institutions, sedentary behavior, schools, government and diet.
