The Professional Association of Physiotherapists of the Community of Madrid (CPFCM) recommends that parents include in their letters to the Kings of their children, toys that promote physical exercise and group or outdoor activity to avoid sedentary lifestyle, one of the main causes of childhood obesity.
According to the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, childhood obesity already affects 45% of children between six and nine years old. Age range in which they watch television more than nine hours a week, devoting two and a half to video consoles (These are data from Madrid children, although I don't think they differ from the whole of Spain). José Santos is the Secretary General of the CPFCM and encourages parents to 'watch your children to limit the time they spend on this type of leisure'
At the same time, we must encourage other types of games and activities that they are forced to exercise their muscles and improve their cardiovascular capacity and physical condition, thus also avoiding the appearance, increasingly early, of childhood back pain.
In the case of virtual games that involve movement, physiotherapists recommend parents accustom your children to avoid sudden movements, to perform stretching before and after the activity, and to make small breaks every hour, extendable advice to adults who practice this activity.
Do not forget to tell the Kings that a console is always welcome, but 'since the child already has one, how about a new bicycle now that it has grown big?'.
