Why Cycling Is Good for Children? Benefits of Cycling for Your Child

" Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike" - John F. Kennedy

Millions around the globe echo what John F. Kennedy felt about a bike ride. Cycling is a popular recreational and fitness activity that is enjoyed by children and adults alike. For the children who learn to bicycle very early in life, there probably is no greater hobby than this.

Cycling is a moderate, low-impact, aerobic, physical activity suitable for all age groups that provide in numerous health benefits, and it can be continued for life without a major time commitment.

Cycling still isn’t a major family sport in India, but step out in the streets of Europe, be it in France, Germany or Switzerland, you would spot families with very young and older children cycling together. Children, however young, would be seen following their parents on bikes with backpacks stuffed with supplies for the weekend getaways. Cycling veritably appears to be the national hobby of the entire bike-obsessed continent. William Saroyan (Nobel prize winner) went to the extent of calling the bicycle as “the noblest invention of mankind”.

Benefits of Cycling for Your Child

It’s not for nothing that cycling is such a popular activity. This sport has a lot going in its favor. Some of the numerous benefits of cycling are:

• Improved Cardiovascular Fitness: Cycling strengthens the heart, which improves blood circulation.
• Reduced Body Fat: Children or young teens that cycle more regularly has less excess weight and body fat than those who do not. Cycling burns calories raises the metabolic rate and builds muscle tone.
• Improved Wellness through Stress Reductions: Cycling improves well- being by bringing down stress levels, increasing self-confidence, reducing tiredness and a range of other medical afflictions.
• Easy to Incorporate in Regular Routine: Since cycling does not involve a steep learning curve and expensive equipment, it is easy to incorporate it into your life.
• Increased joint movement: Cycling can strengthen the joints because the cycling motion provides nourishment that builds up cartilage.
• Reduced back pain: Cycling (and other exercises) provides nourishment that discs in the spine need for development. The large muscles in the back develop and become stronger.
• Stronger Immune System: Cycling regularly gives adequate exercise to the body in order to strengthen immunity.

Many parents prevent children from cycling because it’s believed to be “unsafe”. Far more hazardous than a scraped palm and a nettled knee is the creation of a generation of obese and sedentary children. Falls and smashes are a normal part of growing up, but inactivity is actually a more serious modern malady.

“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.”

-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s words would surely reflect the sentiments of countless avid bikers around the globe.

Image source - www.nutsbike.com