Childhood obesity has become a major problem in the United States and around the world. As a parent, it is your job to keep your children fit. You can do this by providing them with healthy meals and promoting physical fitness. Getting your children to exercise is just like getting them to do anything else. The key is to make it all about having fun. If you make exercise feel like a chore, your kids will grow to resent it. If you make fitness an enjoyable activity, your kids will stay healthy and be happy while doing it.
Sign Them Up For Team Sports
Team sports are a great way for children to stay active in a group environment. Not only will they improve their fitness, but they’ll also learn valuable lessons about working together with a group. An early introduction to team sports will get kids hooked, and they’re likely to pursue this new passion for the rest of their lives. This means a simple step on your part will result in a lifetime of increased well-being.
Promote Individual Sports as Well
Team sports are great, but individual sports bring their own set of benefits. For one thing, some children’s personalities are more inclined toward individual activities. Maybe your child is an introvert who’s doomed to being crowded out on the soccer field but will truly shine on the tennis court. Individual sports also provide kids with hobbies that will be easier to practice in the future. Not many adults can organize a football game, but plenty can find a single friend for a tennis match or a round of golf.
Get them Dancing
Be sure not to focus too heavily on sports while urging you children to be active. Some kids are naturally inclined to prefer the stage to the field or the court. When your children are young, form the habit of tossing on some music and encouraging them to move along with the beat. When they’re older, consider signing them up for classes or lessons.
Instill a Love of Nature
More often than not, an active life is a life lived largely out of doors. Hikers, hunters, anglers, and bird watchers are bound to move around. By encouraging an appreciation of nature in your children, you set them up for an active life. Take your kids on fishing trips and nature walks. Point out interesting flora and fauna. Make trips to a local nature preserve feel like a big deal. Your kids will learn to prize time spent moving around among the wonders of nature.
Encourage Friendships
Lots of healthy, physical activities are social by nature. Also, children who are socially active are more likely to be physically active as well. If kids have a group of friends in the neighborhood, they’ll end up going out and playing (getting vital exercise while doing so). Encourage your kids’ socialization by scheduling play dates and taking them to public play areas.
When Possible, Participate Yourself
Kids love playing with their parents. Nothing signals that an activity is worth pursuing than seeing mom or dad playing along. Take advantage of your children’s respect for you by modeling healthy behavior. Live an active lifestyle, and always encourage your kids to come along on your adventures. Be the first to dance along with music, and always suggest a quick game in the park or yard. What kids find boring on their own will suddenly become amusing when you agree to participate. Try to demonstrate a fun and enthusiastic attitude while playing. You might not always be in the mood for it, but then no one ever said parenting was a hands-off process.
Active kids are healthy kids. They’re also happy kids. That’s why it’s so important to follow the advice mentioned in the list above.
