It’s easy for even the youngest of children to sit down rather than be active these days. With children from as young as two years old having their own devices to play with, the art of boredom has been well and truly lost. Children have exactly what they want at their fingertips, all day- every day.
So, it’s understandable that many parents have to encourage their children to get up and be active. Fortunately, children were made for running around and having fun so once you’ve got them up and out, the rest should follow quickly. Here’s how to help your child find the fun in being active.
Lead By Example
You may have noticed that all children are copycats. They learn by watching others. Therefore, if you’re sitting at a computer all day and come home to sit in front of the TV, they have no incentive to do anything differently.
If you want your kids to be active, you have to start getting active yourself. Go for family walks, play a game of football together, or take the kids swimming. The choices are endless but let your kids see you enthusiastic about exercise.
Find Something They’re Interested In
No child is the same. You may have one child in your household who likes ballet and another begging to start children’s karate. It may not be easy to keep up with the schedules but it’s entirely worth it for your child’s health.
Talk to your kids about what they’re interested in and what they might like to try. If you want to cut the cost of classes, take a look at the extracurricular activities your child’s school offers. An hour of activities after school is a great introduction to any sport.
Switch Up The Transportation
It can be a rush to get everyone out of the door on time for school and work each morning. It’s easy to jump in the car and get there as quickly as possible. However, there may be the odd few days where the weather is on your side and everyone is ready in perfect timing.
On these magical days, why not consider riding bikes or scooters to school instead? You can also walk if the distance isn’t too far for your children. It’s an ideal way to get some daily exercise.
Get Competitive
It can help to give kids an incentive when they aren’t keen on being active. Why not create a competition between adults and kids? See who can get the most points.
When kids do their own activities, offer prizes for personal bests and good efforts. It’s also worth explaining to children that when they get involved in sports, it usually means they’ll end up with a prize at some point during their journey.
Make It Social
Children are naturally very social and love to play with their friends. When you want to get your children to be more active, invite their friends to join in. You could play football or basketball in the backyard.
You could go for a seasonal walk or hike to see what you can find. Even a trip to a local farm will get you walking around to see the animals.
Active Gifts
Whether it’s a birthday or Christmas, there’s always an opportunity to give a gift that gets your kids more active. Roller blades, for instance, are an ideal way to get your kids outdoors and have fun at the same time. If roller blades aren’t what your children are interested in, consider a skateboard, scooter, or push bike instead.
Be sure to buy any protective gear required at the same time. The last thing you want is for your child to hurt themselves when they’re just learning to enjoy the beauty of exercise.
A Pet Dog
If, like most kids, yours have been repeatedly asking for a pet, a new puppy could be exactly what you need. Although dogs are a big responsibility, they’re ideal for helping the whole family get more active. Dogs need to be walked and played with every day and it’s a good way to teach children about responsibility.
If your kids want a pet dog, they’ll need to commit to exercising it regularly. You can also learn to walk with your dog. Puppies only need a short walk each day but older dogs need longer. As your puppy grows, the whole family will become more confident walkers.
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