Now that the school year is coming to a close, it's time to think about the summer activities your kids will participate in. If you haven't thought about good old-fashioned physical activities, you might be short-changing your kids. You know how important it is for you to work-out each week. However, it's also important for your kids to get some physical activity each week. In fact, kids need to be physically active every day. Here are four reasons why you should find ways to increase your kid's activity levels this summer.

Improves Playground Stamina

When kids play on the playground with their friends, they usually start playing tag and other fun games. If your kids aren't physically fit, they may have a hard time keeping up with the other kids, which means they may spend a lot of time being "it." You can help your kids improve their playground stamina by finding fun activities to keep they physically fit this summer.

Replaces Sedentary Activities

Now that summer is just about here, your kids are going to be out on vacation. That means they're going to have plenty of free time. Unfortunately, many kids spend most of their free time engaged in sedentary activities such as watching television, or playing video games. While those types of activities may be fun for kids, they're not necessarily healthy for them. In fact, studies show that sedentary activities lead to childhood obesity. To help keep your kids healthy, and prevent childhood obesity, get your kids involved in physical activities this summer and limit the amount of time they spend in front of the television.

Increases Flexibility

As you age, your body becomes less flexible, which increases the risk of injuries and broken bones. Children who are physically active tend to be more flexible, which helps prevent playground injuries now and will help keep them flexible later in life, as well.

Builds Stronger Bodies

Physical activity helps build stronger bodies. To help your kids develop strong muscles, joints, and bones, it's important for them to find fun ways to remain physically fit throughout the summer.

Now that summer is just about here, start planning some physical activities for your kids. If you belong to a gym like the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, find out if they have summer programs for children. It's also a good idea to check with your local schools to see if they have exercise programs designed for school-aged children.