The second Sports Games for children – the free event that aims at combining sport and fun among the youngest – will be held in Warsaw

Children are more likely to play sports and eat healthier when they see their parents making similar choices daily. Even greater involvement of the youngest in this area can be achieved when we implement healthy habits together with them. In the summer, there are more and more opportunities for this. One of them is the Atmosfera MultiSport Games.

This is a unique sports event for the youngest. The organisers have prepared surprises for children aged 4-6 and 7-12 as well as their parents. The attractions include:

Sports activities will take place in the Atmosfera MultiSport whose mission is the comprehensive development of children through a good atmosphere and various forms of physical activity combined with different games. The centre is located in 5 Racjonalizacji Street in Warsaw’s Mokotów district. The investment was opened in 2020. On the area of 1000 square metres there are five rooms where group classes for children are held under the supervision of qualified instructors and with the help of modern technologies. They include selected sports disciplines, such as dance, acrobatics, martial arts, gymnastics, team games and exercises for children. Everyone interested can register for the event at https://atmosferamultisport.pl/zajecia/igrzyska-atmosfery-multisport

Numerous studies show that children in Western countries are more likely to become overweight or obese during the summer. The reasons for this phenomenon include changes in diet and physical activity during the holidays when children fall out of school rhythm. New research by scientists published in the Frontiers in Physiology journal also indicates that children grow faster during the school year than during the summer break. Slowing down the growth process while gaining weight increases the BMI index in the summer. On the other hand, an increased (above the accepted norms) BMI value – the ratio of the child’s weight to height – indicates the occurrence of overweight or obesity problem. Scientists speculate that school year requirements may alter children’s exposure to the diurnal light-dark cycle which could shape the seasonal pattern of growth.

Seeing how important appropriate habits continued throughout the year are for children’s health, it is worth taking care of the right amount of physical activity and a balanced diet also during the holidays. Development activities will certainly also be useful for children at this time.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children between 5 and 17 years of age undertake at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.

– The WHO recommends that children in this age group should undertake activities strengthening the muscles and the skeletal system such as gymnastics, dancing, or martial arts at least three times a week. Regular physical activity helps to maintain a healthy body weight, reduces the risk of developing many diseases of affluence, such as type II diabetes, strengthens cognitive abilities, but also supports the physical development of children, including growth stimulation – explains Marcin Balicki, sports trainer and programme methodologist at Atmosfera MultiSport, the Warsaw activity centre for children. – Appropriate exercises stimulate building and maintain bone mass by stimulating the work of osteoblasts – bone-forming cells occurring in the places of growth and remodelling of bone tissue. Higher intensity exercises have the greatest impact on stimulating the building of bone mass – he adds.

The results of several studies show that the highest mineral density of bones occurs in people practising such sports as aerobics, gymnastics, dancing, but also football, basketball, volleyball, speed skating, squash, and hockey.[1]

Common, everyday activities during the holidays can turn out to be a real challenge, especially for professionally active parents. Weekends or two-week family holidays are not enough. Children must have two more summer months filled with activities. How to do it? City day camps can be a solution. In Warsaw they are organised in the Atmosfera MultiSport facility, where children aged 5 to 12 take part in general development sports events or activities focused on selected disciplines, such as dance, judo, karate, or acrobatics as part of weekly camps between 09:00 and 17:00. Day camps also include trips and thematic workshops, including those devoted to healthy eating. Children are also provided with balanced meals. More information on the initiative can be found at https://atmosferamultisport.pl/polkolonie