Just because your child has asthma, it doesn't mean he or she can't still be a normal, active kid who participates in play activities and sports alike. In fact, there are many benefits to being active for your child. As long as you are following your child's asthma treatment plan and keeping his / her asthma under control, then life can be lived without any significant limits.

Dr. Iannelli, our Pediatrics Guide, gives a great overview of Exercise and Fitness for Kids. In his article, he states that, "Regular exercise is good for kids. It has been shown to help them build strong self-esteem, sleep better, have more energy, decrease anxiety, and decrease depression."

However, there are some sports activities that are often easier for someone with asthma (child or adult) to tolerate than others. My new article on "Sports & Kids With Asthma" provides tips and advice along those lines.

The main thing as your child begins to grow up and start to make more independent decisions about managing asthma is to keep the lines of communication open. When you know how to talk with your child about his or her asthma, then you shouldn't have any problems with communication!