Last Updated on November 29, 2022.
In the digital world of TikTok challenges and Instagram scrolling, it’s becoming harder to find healthy habits for kids. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are spending up to seven hours a day in front of screens, leading to sedentary lifestyles that are damaging to their health!
Simply put, children cannot be healthy without exercise. Finding the right activities for kids can be the difference between forming healthy habits and bad habits.
One of the best kids activities to keep your child moving is enrolling them in a martial arts school. Researchers have found that replacing 30 minutes of screen time for exercise has a ton of health benefits. At Tiger Schulmann’s, our martial arts classes teach children self-respect, focus and how to grow into mature, young men and women in a fun and safe environment.
How much screen time is too much?
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers parents guidelines for how much screen time is ok for kids. According to the APP, children between the ages of 2 and 5 should be limited to less than one hour of screen time per day. For children above the age of 6, screen time should be limited to 3 hours daily, with an emphasis on learning activities.
These guidelines are starkly contrasted with the average screen time for kids and teens in the United States. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the average screen time for teens is a staggering 9 hours! For children between ages 8 and 12, the average is up to 6 hours, making it one of the most pressing problems confronting parents today.
Children who exceed the recommended guidelines for screentime are nearly twice as likely to become overweight or obese. Weight problems are just the tip of the iceberg, as too much screen time can also lead to mood problems, poor academic performance, insomnia, depression, and anxiety! That is why it’s especially important for kids to get at least an hour of exercise every day. One of the best kids activities for exercise is karate!
What are the benefits of kids karate?
If you want your kids off their screens, one of the best things you can do is enroll them in a martial arts school. Not only will karate classes pull your kids away from TikTok challenges and Instagram stalkers, it will get them moving!
Practicing martial arts is one of the best ways to counteract the negative effects of excessive screen time. Kids who spend too much time in front of screens tend to develop addictive behaviors and are more prone to negative emotions. However, kids who attend martial arts schools have more confidence and lower rates of depression and anxiety.
In an interview with Medical News Today, psychiatrist Dr. Sheldon Zablow explained that spending too much time on social media alters the healthy chemistry of the brain. The best antidote is exercise, which acts as a natural antidepressant. Zablow states that “the essential part of any treatment program recommended is exercise.”
Another downfall of the digital world are the increasing rates of childhood obesity. Sitting in front of a screen for long hours dramatically increases the likelihood a child will become overweight. This brings a number of potential health problems, including asthma and joint problems. Kids enrolled in martial arts schools have an easier time staying physically active, which improves their energy levels, focus, bone development, and cardiovascular fitness!
What is the most effective martial art for reducing screen time?
Any discipline of martial arts will have health benefits for your child. The most effective martial art for reducing screen time is going to be whichever discipline your child is most interested in.
At Tiger Schulmann’s Martial Arts schools, our program includes grappling arts like BJJ and striking disciplines like karate. Our karate classes for kids are amongst our most popular offerings. Our instructors strive to create a healthy and safe environment for all their pupils.
By enrolling your child in a Tiger Schulmann’s karate class, you’ll be providing them with a way to stay fit, both mentally and physically. It’s increasingly challenging retaining kids’ attention in this digital era we’re living in, but karate has always been one of the most popular kids activities.
