With the scorching heat of summer currently in full swing, it can be hard to motivate children to go outside and play.
Even if temperatures are not in the 80s or 90s, it can still be difficult to get children to exercise because of the TV, movies and video games that are readily available.
If you are a parent or caregiver that wants to see your children become more active, here are 10 ways to get started!
1 Focus on fun. You don’t have to call it “exercise,” just consider it an activity. Find out which ones your child likes and encourage those.
2 Limit TV and computer time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than “two hours of daily media exposure” for children ages 2 and older. When they are watching or clicking, make sure they take breaks and move around.
3 Think outside the field. Not all kids are drawn to organized sports. Look for other activities such as dancing, rock climbing, swimming or martial arts.
4 Get fit as a family. Create some funny dance moves. Put up a net and shoot hoops. You could also visit a zoo, play miniature golf or enjoy other activities where a lot of ground is covered on foot.
5 Choose fitness-oriented gifts. For your child’s next birthday, consider giving him or her a jump-rope, mini-trampoline, hula-hoop – something that will encourage movement.
6 Establish a regular routine. Make sure that fitness is plugged into the family schedule in the same way that school, work, shopping, or chores find their way into the calendar.
7 Skip the mall. Go to the playground. Sure, most malls have kids’ play areas. But, when the weather is nice, enjoy a local park or playground instead. Fresh air always does a body good; especially a little one.
8 Be a model of fitness. It’s much easier to motivate kids to be active, if you lead an active lifestyle. Whether you follow a structured fitness program or are lucky to get in some morning stretches, let them see you moving. It will likely inspire them to do the same.
9 Use exercise as a reward. Forcing a child to exercise may backfire and increase resentment and resistance. Instead, offer it as a reward. Your child may be happy to play kickball for 20 minutes if it’s a chance to take a break from homework.
10 Be a fitness advocate at your child’s school. Do you know how much physical activity your child gets at school? Now’s the time to find out. If you don’t like the answer, gather support from other parents to enforce positive changes.
For more information, visit pbs.org/parents/food-and-fitness or webmd.com/parenting.
