School holidays are not just an academic break, but a golden opportunity for parents to strengthen bonds and improve their children's health through physical activity. Sports medicine specialist Dr. Antonius Andi Kurniawan, Sp.KO., Subsp.ALK (K), emphasized the important role of parents in introducing various types of sports at an early age to support children's growth and development.
According to Dr. Andi, sports do not only function to maintain physical fitness and bone density, but also play a crucial role in shaping a child's character. Through sports activities, children can learn about discipline, goal setting, motor coordination, and teamwork, which are highly beneficial for their future interpersonal relationships.
Regarding implementation, Dr. Andi suggested an approach tailored to the child's age group. For the 3 to 6 age group, the focus can be on basic movement games such as jumping, throwing, and catching to train motor skills. Meanwhile, for ages 7 to 12, parents can begin introducing more structured sports such as football, badminton, basketball, or cycling, before finally letting children choose more specific sports interests when they reach ages 13 to 17.
Regarding duration, Dr. Andi reminded that children's physical activity needs are much higher than adults. He recommends children engage in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes daily to achieve optimal fitness.
Although sports are highly recommended, parents are still advised to pay attention to environmental and safety factors, especially weather conditions. Choosing the right time to exercise, particularly avoiding the hot sun, is an important note to keep children safe and comfortable during outdoor activities.
