Endurance (Stamina)
Play energetically to improve stamina
In recent years, as life has become more convenient, children have fewer opportunities to exercise.
Under these circumstances, children's physical strength and athletic ability have been declining since around 1985 up to the present. Among these physical strength and athletic ability, the results of endurance (20m shuttle run) have also declined significantly (see Figure 1).
Endurance is the ability to keep your body moving for a long period of time.Endurance training improves your body's ability to absorb and transport oxygen, allowing you to keep moving for longer periods of time.
Furthermore, improving endurance also leads to the prevention and improvement of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases. Endurance is an important element of physical fitness required for many exercises and sports, including long-distance running, swimming, soccer, and basketball.
Just like adults, children also improve their endurance the more aerobic exercise they do, such as jogging, running, and swimming (see Figure 2).
In addition, it has been found that children who not only exercise but also engage in vigorous physical activity (exercise + daily activities) have higher endurance.This means that stamina can also be improved by increasing opportunities to move your body, such as by helping out, or by spending more time playing and moving.
In particular, physical games that children play, such as tag and jumping rope, often involve high-intensity exercise and therefore contribute greatly to improving endurance.
On the other hand, it has been found that children who spend more time on screen (watching television, using smartphones, playing computer games, etc.), which is becoming a growing problem every year, have lower physical fitness, including endurance.
In the Active Child 60min. program for elementary school students run by the Japan Amateur Sports Association (now the Japan Sports Association), children play physical games, participate in daily activities, and participate in physical education.It is recommended that you exercise for at least 60 minutes every day, including playing sports.
Aim to cut down on screen time and make time for physical activity, whether that be sports or play.
