Visit our foundation to give a gift.
 View Locations Near Me
Main Campus – Hartford
Connecticut Children’s – Waterbury
Urgent Care – Farmington
Specialty Care Center – Danbury
Connecticut Children’s Surgery Center at FarmingtonÂ
Specialty Care Center – Fairfield
Search All LocationsÂ
Find a doctorÂ
Contact Us Â
Search SpecialtiesÂ
Find A DoctorÂ
Request an Appointment
Locations
Amenities and Services
Who’s Who on Care Team
Getting Ready for Surgery
What to Expect—Picture Stories
Understanding the Different Fees
Estimate of Financial Liability
Pay a Bill
Child Life
United Technologies Family Resource Center
Family Advisory Council
Transition Programs
Advocacy
Legal Advocacy: Benefits, Education, Housing
Electronic Health Records
MyChart
Share Your Story
Pay a BillÂ
Login to MyChartÂ
Specialty Referrals
Clinical Support Services Referrals
Inpatient Referrals
ED/Transport Referrals
About the Network
Join the Network
Graduate Medical Education
Continuing Medical Education
MOC/Practice Quality Improvement
Educating Practices in the Community (EPIC)
For Nurses
Learning & Performance
Research
Resources
CLASP/Referral Guidelines
Meet our Physician Relations Team
Request Medical Records
Join our Referring Provider Advisory Board
View our Physician Callback Standards
Read & Subscribe to Medical NewsÂ
Register for Email Updates
Update Your Practice Information
Refer a Patient Â
Contact OneCall Â
Find and Print Health Info Â
Health Information For Kids
You exercise all the time without even thinking of it. When you run around outside or play kickball at school, you are exercising. What else counts as exercise? Playing sports, dancing, and doing push-ups. Even reaching down to touch your toes!
When you exercise, you make your body stronger. So be active every day. Your body will thank you!
Your heart is a muscle. It works hard, pumping blood every day. Help your heart get stronger by doing aerobic (say: air-OH-bik) exercise.
Aerobic means “with air.” When you do aerobic exercise, you breathe faster so you take in more air. Your heart beats harder too. This gives your heart a workout. It will get even better at its main job — taking oxygen from the air you breathe in and giving it to all your body parts.
Lots of exercises can get your heart pumping. Try these:
Did you ever swing across the monkey bars at the playground or play a game of tag? They can make your leg and arm muscles stronger. Here are other ways to build strong muscles:
Being flexible means you can stretch your body easily. Exercises that build flexibility feel really good, like when you take a big stretch in the morning after waking up. It’s easy to find things that help you stretch:
It feels good to have a strong, flexible body that can do all the things you enjoy — like running, jumping, and playing with your friends. It’s also fun to be good at something, like making a basket, hitting a home run, or dancing.
Exercising can also put you in a better mood. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals that make you feel happier. It’s just another reason why exercise is a good idea!
A lot of people talk about fit kids, but how do you become one? Here are five rules to live by, if you want to eat right, be active, and keep a healthy weight.
Sports can be challenging when you’re new to them, but they also can be really fun. Take a second look at sports – and learn other ways to be active – in this article for kids.
It’s normal to wish you could change something about your body. Find out more about these feelings in this article for kids.
Kids who have asthma can and do play sports. Find out how to do it safely in this article for kids.
Want to know more about eating right and being active? This is the place!
Like anyone else, kids with diabetes can enjoy sports. Whether you want to go for the gold or just go hiking in your hometown, your diabetes won’t hold you back.
