According to the CDC, "Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence is important for promoting lifelong health and well-being and preventing various health conditions. The 2008 US Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that children and adolescents  aged 6 to 17 years should have 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity each day." Physical Activity should include:

• Aerobic: Most of the 60 or more minutes a day should be either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity and should include vigorous-intensity physical activity at least 3 days a week.

• Muscle-strengthening: As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week.

• Bone-strengthening: As part of their 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity, children and adolescents should include bone-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week.

Studies show that teens on average spend more than 7½ hours a day on various media, including watching TV, listening to music, surfing online, and playing video games. So it's no surprise that they can't seem to find the time to exercise or that parents can't motivate them to be active.

Wondering what you can do?

Make Physical Activity fun! Do something your child enjoys like walking the dog, dancing, kicking a ball together, or flying a kite.

• Go Noodle is a free program that provides short videos to help you keep your young child moving.  

• Physical Activity Ideas for before and after school 

• Let's Play has ideas for all ages

Limit screen time (videos, TV, computers, phones)

• Wondering how to limit screen time? Take a look at OUR PACT an app that helps you set limtis on your child's device. 

• Take advantage of community resources.

  • Active.com has a variety of activities from running to building and exploring history.  Some activities are virtual and others are in person.

  • Blue Hole Regional Park is located in Wimberley and has hiking, a play area, and more. 

  • Buda city parks are open again, you can see a list of the parks, hours of operation and amenities

  • Buda public library is offering some virtual and some in-person activities, you can view their calendar here

  • Camp Moody is part of the Austin YMCA and has options for families to get active together outside in nature as well as options for adults

  • Dance Unlimited provides classes for youth, adult, and families

  • Hays communities YMCA is part of the Austin YMCA and offers dance, karate, swimming and a variety of fitness classes.

  • Kyle public library is opening more activities you can view the calendar here

  • San Marcos has a great page with links to several different activities and most are free, to view their list click here

  • Southwest Texas sports baseball and softball academy is an indoor sports facility in Buda. You can view their hours and amenities and look at pictures here

  • Sunfield station and CTX event center is an indoor venue in Buda, they have a variety of sports areas, gym equipment and can hold conferences and events as well.

  • Hays Youth Sports Association has a variety of recreation and select team options

  • Manchaca Optimist Youth Sports Complex has a variety recreation and select teams options

Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as:

• Heart disease.

• Cancer.

• Type 2 diabetes.

• High blood pressure.

• Osteoporosis.

• Obesity.

According to the CDC, Students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance (e.g., memory), and classroom behaviors (e.g., on-task behavior). In addition, higher physical activity and physical fitness levels are associated with improved cognitive performance (e.g., concentration, memory) among students.