A nine-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ontario recently made headlines when he raised over $11,550 for the Thunder Bay Ontario Health Sciences Foundation. How did he do it? He cycled for 1,000 kilometers in four months.
And even the COVID-19 pandemic did not hinder him to finish the ride one day before his scheduled completion.
The charity bike ride called “Michael’s 1,000 km Ride” garnered support from not only friends, family, and community but also from prominent personalities and businesses in Thunder Bay like Mayor Bill Mauro, Impala Canada, and Allmar Inc.
Riding a bike is a skill that every kid should try to pursue. There will be scrapes and bruises here and there, but once you have mastered riding the bike, it is something that you will bring with you for life. There are also benefits that kids can get from cycling. Here are the top five reasons why you should let your child mount that bike:
1. Cycling develops cardiovascular muscles.
Cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke are some of the leading causes of death not only in Canada but also in other parts of the world. Regular cycling will reduce the risk of contracting these diseases. Exposing your child to cycling in his or her early years will develop his or her cardiovascular muscles, boost stamina, and improve body circulation.
Besides strengthening heart muscles, cycling will also regulate your kid’s weight and reduce cholesterol in his or her blood. Your kid’s lung function is also improved if this is done regularly each week.
2. It is a low impact exercise that can build muscle mass.
Children still have developing bones and muscles. For only two to four hours a week, your child can experience general health improvement. We all know that riding a bike will develop the legs. Besides that, it also vitalizes the whole body. Cycling makes the major muscle groups in the body work. Fortunately, this activity is also a low impact one – it causes less strain and muscle injury than other forms of exercise. That means you do not have to worry about your child being stressed by cycling.
3. It helps kids’ mental health.
Everyone knows cycling will improve a child’s physical fitness. But did you know that riding a bike regularly will also help your child’s mental health? Studies reveal that children who use bikes to travel from home to school and vice versa are more attentive and focused at school compared to children who are driven to school.
Regular physical activities stimulate the release of happy hormones which improve the overall mood of a person. Additionally, doing recreational biking rides with your child builds your relationship together and exposes him to other people and places. You can teach your child to build social connections by involving him or her with other members of the biking community or just by eating out and chilling in other places, especially the ones he/she has not gone to yet.
Planning travel goals and completing them will also give a sense of achievement to your child. This is a perfect way to introduce him or her to the concepts of perseverance, discipline, self-esteem and completing tasks despite the setbacks.
4. It is a way to introduce environmental protection ideas to kids.
The planet needs all the help it can get, even from children. Cycling is an eco-friendly way to travel from one point to another. While he or she is learning the skills to master the bike, you can also let your child understand how important it is for people to reduce carbon emissions and how simple lifestyle changes can mean a greater impact on saving the environment. Making them aware of the current environmental situation and teaching them how to make necessary changes to make a difference while they are young will help them in making better decisions in the future.
5. Cycling is a fun way to bond with the whole family.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone’s way of life. Important health protocols have restricted people’s movements and families are forced to stay at home for quarantines and lockdowns. Cycling can be a stress-relieving alternative for the whole family. Riding with your child can also let him or her feel supported while learning something new.
If you love cycling, then you will pass it on to your kids. Once in a while join them and cycle together. This way, you also get to exercise and keep fit as a family. Another plus is that you are likely to learn more cycling tricks that your kids have probably picked up from their friends.
If your child is struggling to find a physical activity, encourage him or her to try biking as a hobby and sport. You can be with your child as he/she learns the necessary skill to ride it and you can also be together setting travel goals and going to other places on a bike.Staying healthy is a great family goal. However, there are some days when one of your family members can feel under the weather. When that happens and you cannot get an immediate schedule with a walk in clinic Thunder Bay, find an online doctor instead.
