One does not have to look far to see how kids have been impacted by modern society’s love affair with TV and junk food. While adults are the ones with the majority of the buying power and activity decision making, the reality is that kids are just as impacted by those choices as the ones who are actually making them.
However, kids who learn when they’re young to thoughtfully navigate the challenges surrounding their health have a much better chance of maintaining that health long into adulthood. And they’re more likely to do that if they’re able to embrace a healthy lifestyle that works on multiple levels.
The CDC recommends that kids get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, and any parents knows that’s a lot easier said than done, but the right activity will make it much more doable for them and for you.
For several reasons, cycling can serve as a game-changer for kids’ health and well-being — not just in terms of whether or not they’re moving enough, but also in terms of their quality of life. That’s even more important and long-lasting than encouraging them to do something just for the physical benefits.
Here are three reasons why cycling can provide the incentives to get kids moving and thinking:
Cycling can be done in groups and individually
Cycling is one of the few sports that can be both a social experience as well as an activity that one benefits from on an individual level. The physical benefits don’t change based on whether or not a teammate is available.
The National Interscholastic Cycling Association has leagues across the United States, which provide interscholastic mountain biking opportunities for kids. Kids can come together and work towards sound minds and bodies, all the while developing solid friendships. For those interested in unique opportunities to compete, cycling is hard to beat.
But, it’s also a totally accessible activity, even beyond organized activities. Whether a kid is in a cul-de-sac or on a dirt road, cycling is possible. They aren’t constrained by access to teammates or a court.
Plus, cycling is a sport that easily becomes a family bonding experience; again, a rarity in comparison to other sports. Cycling can include everyone from mom and dad to the littlest sibling riding along with a parent.
Cycling fosters an appreciation of the outdoors
Sure, a lot of sports happen outside. But, few require quite as much mental investment in the outdoors. When you’re on a bike, the weather and the terrain all matter as much as you and the bike itself.
Cycling encourages kids to really see what it going on around them. Even the youngest mountain cyclist is able to gain the experience necessary to see why it’s worthwhile to preserve and protect the trails and pathways of the great outdoors.
Additionally, cycling is a skill that provides opportunities to enjoy new places in totally novel ways.
To quote Artifact Uprising, “Travel always teaches. The curiosity of the unfamiliar–whether it is a neighborhood or a country over–strengthens human connection and broadens the view. In seeing new sights and meeting new faces, we are reminded to rearrange routine and take the long way home every now and again.”
And that love affair that inevitably develops between your kids and the outdoors will encourage them not just to ride their bike, but also to swim, hike, and climb. They’ll want to opt to go outside of their own volition and to get moving, letting the dust of their tracks settle on the couch they leave far behind.
Cycling is practical as well as recreational
Here is yet another area in which cycling offers something that virtually no other sport does. If a kid invests the time and energy into cycling, they’re not just investing in a sport, they’re also investing in something that actually serves a practical value.
Utilizing cycling as a family method of commuting happens successfully when everyone has the gear they need to be safe and the endurance to make the ride with relative ease. Sometimes, this means including other forms of cardio to make sure that everyone’s stamina is up to par.
If your family does need some fortified stamina, don’t fear! It’s just another way to encourage and reinforce that health matters, and that it can be fun. Especially as the cool weather sets in, there are some solid ways to save on fitness during the fall, before the New Year’s’ fitness rush.
As cities have revamped their efforts to keep up with the amount of cyclists on the road, they are becoming increasingly adept at planning trails and streets in biking-friendly ways.
If you encourage your kids to bike to the movies or the parade or to lunch, instead of driving, and you good-naturedly hop on your bike as well, they’ll be more inclined. The benefits of kids embracing cycling extend from now to down the road, as adults making their very own, next-generation-impacting choices.
The vehicle for change
We all want the very best for the next generation; we want to protect them from and equip them for the challenges they will surely face regarding their health. Because ultimately, their ability to live a full life is directly tied to their ability to do the things they want to do, and to feel good when they do those things.
Being able to recognize the benefits of cycling bleeds into all other areas of life, and it provides the ability to consistently apply what has been gained from cycling to every area of life.
As a NICA writer noted, “…when you find yourself dreading the thought of spending 2+ hours on homework, just imagine yourself at the top of a grueling climb preparing for an epic descent. Now consider all the hard work that went into pedaling up to the top of that climb. Nothing in life that’s worthwhile is easy, and everything that’s worthwhile requires hard work. Now go get after that homework like you’re going for the holeshot!”
That’s the kind of shift that happens; it’s not just a matter of one’s physical ability, but also the confidence and experience that can be translated into mental stamina as well. Thus, cycling can become a vehicle for whole-being fitness.
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