Children can—and should—take part in gym and after-school sports if their asthma is under control. In fact, regular exercise may even lower a child's risk of getting asthma attacks. It makes sense to take certain precautions:

• Children shouldn't exercise when their symptoms are bothering them.
• Activities that are performed in cold air, such as ice skating, tend to exacerbate asthma. In addition, some children with asthma fare better at sports that involve short bouts of movement instead of nonstop activity—for instance, tennis versus running. Some good exercise choices for children with asthma include volleyball, swimming, baseball, and martial arts.
• Ask your doctor to write a letter to your child's gym teacher or coach. It should explain what triggers your child's symptoms, as well as the warning signs of an attack. It also should include the kind of medicine your child needs as well as an emergency contact if your child has an attack.
• Ask your doctor which medicine your child can take before exercise to help prevent symptoms. Many children use an inhaler medication about 15 minutes before being active.
• Before exercise, teach your child to warm up with 10 minutes of walking and stretching. After exercising, they should cool down for about 10 minutes.