The consistent surge of obesity in children has reached the level that makes it critically important to get children up, out and moving. The main reason behind childhood obesity is a matter of children consuming more calories than they expend; the main remedy, it stands to reason, is to get every child more involved in exercise to burn the excess calories. Backyard swing sets are a way to incorporate exercise into a child's lifestyle while allowing them to consider it only fun and play.
There is no denying that technology has definite advantages: homework and research are greatly aided through the use of home computers and the internet. There is one decided disadvantage, however, in that it has made it easier for children to live a sedentary life. Video games, online gaming and television on demand provide knowledge, entertainment and socialization while sitting in the same position for hours each day. It comes as no surprise, then, that clinical studies show overwhelming numbers of overweight children: 19.6% of children in the 6-11 years age bracket and 18.1% of children aged 12-19 fall under the category of obese.
The problem needs to be fought in order to prevent an entire generation from extremely high levels of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, joint problems and many other physical conditions in addition to the emotional problems obesity can cause. Exercise is a certain solution and fighting childhood obesity with backyard swing sets is a much more reasonable alternative to sending children out for a five mile jog each day.
Perhaps the best motive to use children's play equipment is that they do not realize just how much exercise they are getting; the focus, rather, is on fun and imagination. When laughing their way down the slide, few children pay attention to how their legs work to climb up the ladder of the slide. Backyard swing sets, to the kids, are not devices in which to increase their heart rate and provide aerobic exercise. Children place more focus on swinging higher than ever before, perhaps even high enough to touch the clouds, or being the first to reach the top in order to be King of the Castle than they place on the healthy benefit of this play.
Children's play equipment is not simply equipment. The play structure becomes a ship sailing unknown waters to avoid capture by pirates or a castle being valiantly defended from ferocious dragons. It matters little to children that this play is keeping their minds and bodies healthy; they are content to simply play. This type of healthy play not only gets children up and moving today, it also instills an enjoyment of physical activity that will be carried on long after they have outgrown backyard swing sets.
The activity involved in kids play sets may seem simple, perhaps even too easy. These structures, however, are an excellent first step in promoting health and exercise and reducing or eliminating long-term health problems in the future of overweight children.