Kids Health News

Through our own primary and secondary research we have come across some remarkable findings. Below you will find summaries of reports, studies and articles that we think that are worth reading, sharing, and keeping in mind. Click on the links below to find out more about this groundbreaking research, and how Gorilla Gym can help realize those benefits.

Invest In Your Child’s Health and Happiness

The greatest gift you can give your child is happiness and health. What most parents don’t realize is how important it is to instill good exercise habits at a young age, and the profound effect it has on your developing child.

  • Increased strength, stamina, and flexibility
  • Increase your lifespan by 5 years
  • Cure genetic disease
  • Prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Decrease your chance of getting heart disease
  • Lower likelihood to get Adult Metabolic Syndrome

Read all about the research that backs these claims, as well as other amazing effects here.

Mental Health and Psychological Benefits

Working out your body also helps to work out your brain. Researchers have found a link between exercise and better mental heath and performance. A few of the benefits are:

  • Better school performance
  • More confidence
  • Less anxiety
  • Lower likelihood of depression

Read more about the mental health and psychological benefits of exercise here.

Motor Skill Development

The amount of physical activity your child is engaged in has a greater effect on them than you might think. By age 7, your child is 95% neurologically developed. During these years it’s important to instill good fitness and activity habits. If your child is stagnant during these years, as their brain develops it will prune out the neurons that are used less frequently (in that case, neurons that are active with exercise) in favor of neurons responsible for other things.

  • People are neurologically programmed by age 7 to be active or lazy
  • All fundamental motor skills are developed and can’t be perfected past age 14

Read more about how exercise can affect development here.

Autism, Disabilities, and Sensory Processing Disorders

Until recently, exercise and games that incorporate physical activity has been underutilized in behavioral therapy programs. Researchers have found links between therapy programs that incorporate exercise, and the positive effects listed below.

  • Movement based autism therapies improve academic performance
  • Physical activity reduces autistic children’s aggression
  • Exercise therapy improves motor skills and engagement
  • Exercise mitigates negative effects of autism medicine

The above, coupled with the fact that autistic children are more prone to be overweight or obese is reason enough to incorporate more physical activity into your child’s behavioral therapy. Read more about exercise and how it can help individuals with disabilities, autism, or other sensory processing disorders here.