Children's health is increasingly threatened in today's world. The challenges of modern lifestyles and excessive use of gadgets like mobile phones and laptops are weakening children physically and mentally. Reports indicate that approximately 45% of children in India are overweight, 28% do not engage in regular physical activity, and 67% spend less than an hour playing outdoors. Furthermore, the risk of serious illnesses such as myopia (nearsightedness), obesity, thyroid disorders, and diabetes is also rising among children. Therefore, it has become crucial to utilize the summer vacation effectively to improve and strengthen children's health.
Growing Threats to Children's Health
Children's health is steadily deteriorating. The primary reason is the change in their lifestyle. Children spend hours each day on gadgets like mobile phones, televisions, and laptops. This not only weakens their eyesight but also gradually weakens their bodies. According to research, about 30% of children in the country are struggling with myopia. In addition, children's physical activity has significantly decreased, leading to obesity, thyroid problems, and diabetes at a young age. Habits of junk food consumption and a lack of nutritious diets further weaken their immunity.
Along with these physical problems, children's mental health is also severely affected. Excessive gadget use leads to shorter attention spans, irritability, and increased anger over minor issues. Insufficient sleep and irregular routines contribute to increased stress and anxiety. This directly impacts their studies, cognitive abilities, and memory. Therefore, it is essential to instill in children the habits of adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, and daily physical activity. These small changes can make their present and future healthier and brighter.
Why is Children's Health Deteriorating?
- Junk Food and Unhealthy Diets: Junk food consumption is increasing among children. These foods lack nutrition and contribute to obesity.
- Lack of Physical Activity: Today's children are so engrossed in smartphones, television, and gaming that they rarely go outside to play, reducing their physical activity.
- Excessive Screen Time: Increased screen time reduces children's ability to focus and negatively impacts their minds and bodies.
- Lack of Sleep: Increased stress and gadget addiction deprive children of adequate sleep, affecting their growth and immunity.
Why is Yoga Important for Children During Summer Vacation?
Yoga is crucial for children during the summer holidays because it not only keeps their bodies healthy but also calms and focuses their minds. Yoga is a simple and natural way for children to become healthy without medication. Swami Ramdev also advises children to practice yoga daily to strengthen their immunity and stay away from illnesses. Yoga strengthens children's bones and muscles, aiding in height growth. Additionally, yoga relieves children from stress, anger, and irritability, improving their concentration on studies. Summer vacation, with its ample free time, provides an ideal opportunity to establish a lifelong yoga practice.
How to Prevent Obesity in Children?
Provide Fresh and Nutritious Home-Cooked Food: To prevent obesity, it's essential to provide children with fresh, nutritious home-cooked meals. Avoid fried and junk foods like chips, pizza, burgers, and cold drinks. Incorporate a balanced diet of lentils, rice, vegetables, and bread to provide essential nutrients.
Develop a Habit of Fruits and Green Vegetables: Give children fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables daily. These are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals that not only control weight but also strengthen immunity.
Encourage Yoga and Sports: Minimize children's screen time and encourage outdoor play, running, or yoga. Half an hour of yoga or running in the morning helps keep children active and fit.
Pay Attention to Calories and Nutrition: Maintain a balanced calorie intake in children's food. Avoid excessive sugary, fried, and fatty foods. Include milk, yogurt, fruits, dry fruits, and whole grains in their diet for proper development and weight management.
Benefits of Yoga for Children
A Fit and Strong Body: Yoga strengthens muscles and promotes bone health, resulting in a flexible and active body. This is especially important during childhood for proper physical development, allowing children to perform daily activities without fatigue.
Stronger Immune System: Yoga significantly boosts immunity. Regular yoga reduces the frequency of common illnesses like colds, coughs, and allergies, enabling the body to fight infections effectively.
Improved Focus and Concentration: Yoga directly impacts brain function, improving concentration, memory, and cognitive abilities. It enhances focus on studies, leading to better understanding and increased self-confidence.
Reduced Mental Stress and Irritability: Children also face stress, irritability, and anger. Yoga promotes mental calmness and balance, leading to happiness, improved behavior, and positive thinking.
Increasing Myopia in Children
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is becoming a major problem among children. Approximately 30% of children in the country are affected. The primary cause is spending hours in front of screens (mobile phones, laptops, or televisions), straining their eyes and gradually weakening their vision. Weakened eyesight not only impacts studies but also leads to headaches, eye irritation, stress, and lack of self-confidence. It is crucial to limit screen time and prioritize eye care.
Improving children's health requires lifestyle changes throughout the year, not just during summer vacations. Yoga, balanced nutrition, physical activity, and controlled screen time contribute to physical and mental well-being. Summer vacation offers a valuable opportunity for children to adopt new habits that will benefit them throughout their lives.
