Physical Activity Helps Decrease Teen Behavior Problems

Spring is almost here! Only a few more weeks and you will no longer have to deal with your kids being cooped up inside. It might be likely that the weather keeping them from getting out has caused a few teen behavior problems. Not being able to do much outside the home has left them anxious, aggressive, and more prone to getting into trouble.
Luckily with spring on its way, there will soon be more opportunities for teens to get outside and a much larger variety of ways to exercise to burn off some steam. As most people know, consistent exercise promotes physical and mental health, but new research finds an even greater benefit for teens.

Daily exercise provides social and emotional benefits.

A study, by Trimbos Institute researchers in the Netherlands, recently looked at two possible benefits of exercise on mental health: positive self-image and gaining friends. Researchers studied 7,000 students, ages 11 to 16, specifically looking at those who were involved in team sports.

“In the survey, researchers found that teenagers who took part in organized sports had a more positive self-image and greater self-esteem than teens who weren’t physically active.” – Patrictia Neighmond

Those same teens were also less likely to have teen behavior problems, such as aggression and anxiety. A long-term study published in the Journal of School Health also concluded that being involved in team sports provided:

  • Lowered risk of obesity
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Increase confidence
  • Academic achievement

60 minutes of physical exercise each day

The recommended amount of exercise by the US Department of Health and Human Services is one hour each day for kids ages six to 17. With cuts in school budget, physical education is often one of the first classes to be impacted. According to the CDC, only 24 percent of female and 34.9 percent of male high schoolers receive a daily P.E. class. Thus, encouraging your teen toward more extracurricular exercise is vital.
Even if your teen is not fond of competitive team sports, they can still reap the benefits by getting involved in consistent exercise from karate, dance, or other individual activities.

Help with teen behavior problems

If your teen has extensive teen behavior problems that are negatively impacting his productivity and attitude, we can help. Trails Carolina provides wilderness therapy to teens with significant behavioral and emotional issues. Through focusing on physical, mental, and social health, we can help your teen make positive life changes.

Call Trails today at 800-975-73030 to learn more about our program and how we can help.

Posted in
Avatar of Graham Shannonhouse

Graham Shannonhouse

Get started today

Contact us today to learn how Trails Carolina can help your family

Contact Us LP

Trails saved my daughter’s life. Amanda is an amazing human and a brilliant therapist. I am so grateful to her, Science Steve, and the other wonderful people who could reach my daughter at a time when I could not.

Margot Lowman August 2022

Great life changing experience for our son. After becoming addicted to gaming during covid he was very depressed. At Trails he experienced the wilderness, Science Steve, learning survival skills and top notch therapy and support etc… I highly recommend! This gave our son and our family a renewed family bond full of love and excitement about his bright future.

Winnifred Wilson July 2022

 

Outstanding clinical work and superb staff! There’s a great culture at this company and it shows with how they engage with families/clients.

Kristin Brace June 2022

 

Discover If Trails Is The Right Program For Your Child

Take our short online assessment and help us better understand how we can help your family.

A teen stands at the meeting point of two trails in the forest, one leading higher towards the light and one leading down into darkness

Top 5 Common Myths About Wilderness Therapy For Youth: Understanding The History and Today’s Reality

Today, families have access to supportive, safe, and nurturing therapeutic treatment programs. Modern wilderness therapy programs, like Trails Carolina, are far from the punitive boot camps they are often portrayed as. 
A red-headed young woman sits on a hilltop overlooking forested mountains in front of her.

Treatment For Anxiety In Teens: How Wilderness Therapy Can Help

At Trails Carolina, we will give your child the skills to manage anxiety in real-time as soon as they arrive on our campus. They will very quickly gain a sense of belonging at Trails because of the sense of community that naturally occurs with the other students who are dealing with the common struggles of learning to manage adolescent anxiety.
Treating Oppositional Defiant Disorder - A teen boy in a beanie and a sweatshirt glowers at the viewer in the woods.

Dealing with Defiance: Six Tips for Decreasing Defiant Behavior

Most parents know what is like to live with a defiant teenager. Teens often feel inclined to push buttons and test the limits enforced upon them. This can be extremely frustrating for parents and create a constant power struggle within the home. The teenage years are when one is trying to figure out where they…
family reuniting - trails carolina reviews
Trails Carolina’s wilderness camps for troubled teens are dedicated to helping teens work through behavioral or emotional difficulties, build trusting relationships with their family and peers, and achieve academic success.