Physical activity is beneficial as children grow, as it promotes strong muscles and bones, a healthy weight, decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and even better sleep. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that children ages 6 to 17 should have a minimum of one hour of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. Unfortunately, the United States is not doing well in meeting these guidelines, with the Physical Activity Alliance’s Report Card reporting a grade of D- in 2022.

Psychological Wellbeing
Being sedentary can also negatively affect a child’s mental health. A 2021 study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health Journal found that children’s mental health is negatively impacted by too much screen time and not enough physical activity. The study notes that when kids spent more time engaged in physical activity and less time on digital devices, they had improved psychological wellbeing. Those that spent more time on screens reported feelings of anxiety and depression and even had physical manifestations such as stomach aches. Researchers also noted that when kids were sedentary, they reported lower happiness levels regardless of the amount of screen time they had. Additionally, physically active kids were more likely to be better focused and successful in school.

Choices in Physical Activities and Sports
The physical activities a child chooses depends on their personality as well as their likes and dislikes. The activities will also look different as a child grows. Preschoolers need activities that involve play and help them to develop important motor skills. Activities like playing tag, hopping on one foot, or kicking or throwing a ball all assist with developing coordination and balance. Organized, competitive team sports are not recommended until a child is a bit more physically and cognitively mature. Recommendations currently state that children should be at least eight years old to be able to handle the physical and mental stress of competitive sports. For children under the age of eight, the focus of physical activity should be on fun rather than competition. 

Physical activity can be promoted through team or individual sports. Participating in sports improves strength, endurance, and fine and gross motor skills. Individual sports teach motivation and allow youth to compete at their own pace. Examples of individual sports include archery, swimming, golf, and running. Team sports, like baseball, soccer, football, basketball, and volleyball emphasize patience, communication, resilience, and collaboration with others by working together as a team. 

Increased Health Benefits
If possible, youth should participate in a variety of sports for increased health benefits. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Sports Science found that youth who participated in multiple sports were more likely to take part in recreational physical activity compared to those who did not play any sports or those who participated in only one. Further, kids who played a variety of sports were found to be less prone to injury.

For the Less Athletically Inclined
It is well understood that some children may lack athletic ability, interest in physical activity or both. Further, some youth will fall into the category of being casual athletes: they may be interested in being active but may not want to be engaged in a competitive athletic environment. These less athletic youth can stay active by playing basketball in the driveway or playing catch with friends. To increase the likelihood of a non-athlete child exercising, choose activities that have the potential for lifelong enjoyment such as running, swimming, and hiking. These activities are wonderful because while they can be done individually, they also can be enjoyed with friends and family.

Parents Can Set the Stage
It is also important to remember that children learn by example and are therefore more likely to be physically active when their parents have an active lifestyle. If a parent is inactive, their child will most likely see physical activity as a low priority. Parents can prioritize being active by incorporating movement into their daily routine as a family through activities such as taking a walk after dinner, hiking, or going on bike rides. Participating in those simple activities as a family can lead children to be more active during their youth and propel them to become active adults. In a 21-year longitudinal study published in Pediatric Exercise Science Journal, youth who played sports and were physically active between the ages of nine to eighteen were five to six times more likely to be active into adulthood. 

In summary, not every child will or should be a competitive athlete, but that does not mean they should not participate in team or individual sports to stay physically active. So, get your child involved in sports; participation can provide them with better physical and mental wellness, improved self-confidence, and better overall life satisfaction!

Marie Vazquez Morgan, PT, PhD, is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Institutional Wellness at LSU Health Shreveport.

 

The post Get Your Child Moving! appeared first on SB Magazine.

BY SCOTT ANDERSON

Max Mayeaux is not a typical 15-year-old boy. You see, before “Max on the Sax” blows at shows, Max on the Sax rides a horse, of course. And he’s pretty boss when it comes to lacrosse.

Max is a sophomore at Loyola College Prep, where he plays lacrosse and football. He also trains and competes in equestrian events with Hidden Acres Equestrian Center in Stonewall. He’s done that for 10 years. But Max found his love for music at an early age. He remembers listening to the music his parents enjoyed when he was very young. He also performed in plays at South Highlands Elementary, including the lead role in “Aladdin.”

He picked up the saxophone for the first time as a sixth-grader in the Caddo Middle Magnet band program, under the direction of Krista Fanning. Why the saxophone? “My brother played before me,” Max said. “He played the saxophone, so I started with it, too.” His parents, Peyton and James Mayeaux, still remember that first instrument. “We just got a $250 alto sax I found online,” Peyton said.

As Max’s skills improved, he outgrew that starter saxophone. It was time for an upgrade. So Max had a choice to make. “He gave up going to Camp Ozark one summer to buy a new saxophone,” Peyton said.

In the music business, landing your first big break sometimes depends on who you know. For Max, it was who his mom knew that opened that first door with Professor Porkchop and the Dirty Dishes.

“My mom gets her hair done by Jason Coffield’s wife,” Max said. “Mom showed her videos of me playing. She told me to come out one night.” Max met bandmember Coffield along with lead singer and Professor Porkchop himself, Chris McCaa, and the rest of the band one night at Superior Grill. They invited him on stage, where he played “Havana” as his debut.

“I still can’t believe I played that in Superior Grill,” Max said. Max caught the attention of Chris Campisi with the band

The Good News. “I was in sixth grade,” Max said. “I didn’t know how to do half the stuff I do now.” That all changed when bandmates Omenka Webb and Dirty Redd stepped in to augment his musical education. “I learned to really play in front of people, to know where I am in the music, to know what’s right and what’s wrong,” Max said.

He started playing in front of people more often, with The Good News and also with Robert Trudeau’s Shreveport Second Line Brass Band.

Max’s mom was aware from the beginning they had a show-man on their hands. “When all this first started, we knew he was a performer,” Peyton said. “That wasn’t a surprise. It was when the switch flipped, and he could hear what others were doing and just play. When all of a sudden he could transpose in his head. That was huge. That’s when we realized we had an awesome responsibility.” It was a responsibility that took some adjustments, she added.

“It was a bit out of our wheelhouse,” she said. “We’d be at Superior, and he’s studying spelling words between sets.”

But the more he played, the more he learned. “Basically, all these bands taught me to play without looking at music,” he said. “I was taught by reading music. But these guys taught me how to improvise correctly.”

Shreveport musician Brady Blade also took Max under his wing as mentor. Thanks to Blade, Max got a behind-the-scenes look at live music in New York City. Peyton said that Blade had arranged for Max to meet the saxophone player from the Dave Matthews Band at a concert. But those plans fell through when the sax player contracted COVID. They still enjoyed the concert before landing at Ashford and Simpson’s bar for open mic night after the show.

“They called him up, and the man asked, ‘What are you going to play for us?,’” Peyton said. “Max said, “I’ll just play what you’re playing.’ “We’re sitting there, in this very strange place. The guy starts singing a Christmas song. I’m filming. I say, “Oh, no. Here we go.’ That guy sang and sang. He never gave Max the chance to get in. Finally, he did, and it was beautiful. I stood there, filming and sobbing. That’s when I realized this is a phenomenal talent,” says Peyton.

Max’s father James adds, “None of this would have happened without Jason Coffield and Chris Campisi. The entire Shreveport music community has embraced our boy and given him amazing opportunities. We will always be thankful for them, and we are incredibly proud of Max.”

Max said the biggest thing he has learned about playing music is the importance of the fundamentals. “Improv is very hard,” he said. “It’s really making sure you know your scales. Knowing all the scales will get you anywhere in the improv world. And sometimes you have to know when to play the wrong note. It’s all about how you make other people sound, too.” Back in Shreveport, Max is diligent about keeping up with his music, his academics, and his athletics. It’s a delicate balancing act, he said.

“I leave the house when it’s dark, and come back when it’s dark,” Max said. “It’s hard to balance waking up, going to school, coming home, and riding my horse, too. It’s hard to get good grades. But staying busy keeps you out of trouble. I’d get bored if I didn’t do it.”

Max does not have definite plans yet for college or beyond. After all, he is a teenager. But he does not foresee losing his love of music. “I really don’t have an idea yet what I want to do, or where I want to go to college,” Max said. “I know I’m not going to go for sports or anything like that. I’d like to keep playing music throughout my life, even if it’s not my paying job.”

Music has taught him one other important lesson he will carry throughout his life. “What I have really learned is how to communicate with people,” Max said. “I have learned to deal with all types of people. I worked with artists and producers in New York and learned what I want to do and what I don’t want to do. You have to know your audience and who you are playing to. Learn to read the reactions of the crowd. If your audience isn’t paying enough attention, play the wrong note to get them back. It’s all of learning how to communicate with someone.”

The post MAX ON THE SAX appeared first on SB Magazine.