Mental Benefits
– Improves self esteem and confidence
– Reduces stress, anxiety and depression
– Improves mood
– Enhances concentration and learning
– Develops positive lifelong attitudes towards physical
– Prevents cognitive decline (ie: Alzheimers)
– Helps control addiction
– Increases relaxation
– Assist with problem solving and creativity skills
Physical Benefits
– Prevents falls in older adults
– Develops strong muscles and bones
– Develops a healthy cardiovascular system
– Reduces risk for disease
– Improves energy and stamina
– Increases longevity
– Improves quality of sleep
– Continued independent living later in life
– Better posture
Social Benefits
– Encourages community connectedness
– Improves social skills & communication
– Reduces isolation and loneliness
– Creates safer places and communities
– Contributes to better performing schools
– Creation of lasting friendships
– Boosts self-confidence and self-esteem
– Encourages healthy family engagement
– Provides opportunities for children to learn different aspects of the social world such as cooperation and sharing
– Helps young people develop self –discipline and leadership
– Teaches young children how to deal with winning and losing
Environmental Benefits
– Reduces traffic congestion
– Reduces air pollution
– Reduces greenhouse gases
– Reduces noise pollution
– Safer places with people out and about
– Reduced need for the enormous amount of space required to store, drive and park motor vehicles.
Economic Benefits
– Creation of employment
– Attracts tourism
– Reduction in absenteeism at the workplace
– Reduction in crime rates
– Health savings from reduction of disease