Are Extreme Sports Good For Your Kids?

12 December, 2014

Fitness

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Getting younger kids interested in exercising regularly and keeping healthy can be difficult. Believe or not, though, your kids might already be doing it. Parents can discourage kids from so called “extreme’ sports like skateboarding, rollerblading, and BMX, as they seem too dangerous. While we’re not saying they won’t come back with some inevitable bumps and bruises, we can tell you that all three of these activities are fantastic ways for young people to keep active.

Skateboarding

Skateboarding is particularly popular and, even if you aren’t performing elaborate tricks, you could still be burning around 12 calories a minute just by pushing the board around with your feet. It also helps build physical endurance as skaters often go out for hours at a time. As a cardiovascular workout, skateboarding has been compared to jumping rope as it keeps the body flexible. It’s also regarded as a full-body workout and helps to develop key muscles like glutes, hamstrings, quads, and the lower back.

Rollerblading

Rollerblading might be associated with the Californian sun, but you don’t need to be cruising by a beach to take full advantage of the health benefits it offers. While the activity might look effortless, rollerblading is actually regarded as one of the tougher cardiovascular activities. You’ll get results, too, as skaters can expect to burn 350 calories per hour while skating 6 miles per hour or 600 calories while skating 10 miles per hour. Rollerblading is known to give a great lower body workout with particular emphasis on your thighs, hamstrings, quads, and gluteus maximus.

BMX

BMX is possibly the most dangerous of the three activities here. A BMX rider will earn a similar cardio workout to regular cyclists, but they’ll also benefit from the high-intensity interval training (HIIT) that results from the short sessions the sport typically lasts. HIIT is a training method where low-to-moderate intensity intervals are alternated with high-intensity training intervals. This means you’re able to increase both your aerobic and anaerobic endurance while also burning more fat than normal.

If your son or daughter is involved in any of these activities, don’t feel irresponsible about encouraging them. To make sure they’re safe, get them some safety equipment from specialist retailers like Skate Hut. They have everything from helmets to knee pads and they also stock other equipment, clothes, and accessories. Work out a deal with your kids. You’ll buy them that new skateboard deck if they promise to wear their elbow pads.

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About Paul Stainthorpe

Running has been part of my life since 2011. While growing up I hated running and would do anything to avoid it at school. Give me a ball and a racket any day. It’s funny how some things change. I run for good. In 2012 I ran the 12 Days of Christmas for the Percy Hedley Foundation. In 2013 I attempted (with friend Lee Nyland), the 12 parkruns of Christmas for the Tiny Lives Trust.