8 Ways to Encourage Your Kids to Get More Physical Activity

As a parent, all you want for your child is for them to be happy and healthy. Of course, proper nutrition and regular exercise are two of the best ways to maintain anyone’s physical and mental health. However, children may struggle to understand why physical activity is so important. If you’re having trouble motivating your children to get physically active, check out these tips.

1.  Give them active toys

The types of toys you give your children play a role in shaping their behavior. So, it’s important to make an effort and provide your kids with fun toys that encourage them to get active. Toys like playground balls, rubber hoppers, scooters, and outdoor exploration kits can help your kids get outside and be active. In addition to toys, getting your kids appropriate activewear, such as boys or girls running shoes, can encourage them to be more active as well.

2.  Make exercise fun

Think back to when you were a child. Were you concerned with the long-term health benefits of a balanced diet and exercise? Were you at all interested in counting calories or the virtues of cardio workouts? More likely than not, you probably weren’t too concerned with the technical aspects of nutrition and exercise when you were little—you just wanted to have fun!

Make physical activity fun for your children by making active plans or coming up with games to play. Take your kids to play frisbee at the park or head down to the local pool for family swim night.

3.  Get the whole family moving

It’s much easier to get your kids moving when they’re doing it with the rest of the family. Try going for a hike as a family or enjoy a day at the beach where you all swim around in the lake. If your child is interested in sports, you could even sign up to coach their team or volunteer your help in other areas.

4.  Make time for physical activity

Young children need structure. If left to their own devices, kids can spend days at a time indoors, watching TV or playing video games. As a parent, you should set aside time for physical activities. Whether your child is surfing the web or doing homework, give them free time where they can play outside and release some energy.

Kids should have the freedom to play at parks, where they can practice their motor skills on awesome playground equipment and develop social skills by playing with other children. It’s important for kids to have time to play and explore because it helps them to stay happy and healthy. Spending time outdoors is also crucial to their growth and development, as well as their mental health.

5.  Explore organized sports

There are a number of reasons why organized sports can be great for kids. In addition to making your child get active, participating in organized sports can teach your kids lessons about teamwork, self-discipline, perseverance, and the power of hard work. Your children will learn how good it feels to earn a victory, as well as how to be a good sport in the face of defeat. Plus, organized sports provide a great opportunity for your kids to develop social skills and build lasting friendships.

6.  Limit screen time

While watching TV, playing video games, and surfing the web are natural things for kids to do, everything should be taken in moderation—this is especially true when it comes to electronics. Now more than ever, children are being exposed to screens at a younger age and spending more time engaged with the digital world. In order to encourage physical activity, you should be setting caps on screen time. Then, rather than being glued to an electronic device, your child can go outside, be physically active, and get creative with how they spend their time.

7.  Assign them chores

While chores may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of exercise, they can actually be a great way to get your kids active. For example, you could take your kids out into the garden with you and have them trim plants or pull weeds.  Gardening is also a great way to teach them to be responsible. You can get them started with a spray-and-grow vegetable kits for beginners because it is the easiest way to teach kids to plant. Even something as simple as vacuuming the living room or washing the dishes can get your kids moving around.

8.  Be their role model

As their parent, a child takes their behavioral cues from you. If you spend a lot of time being physically active, chances are your children will want to do the same things as you. On the other hand, if you sit around and do nothing, then your children will have trouble understanding the importance of exercise. After all, if you’re trying to motivate your kids to get physically active, the last thing you want to hear is, “Why should I if you don’t?”

It’s essential for one to stay active throughout their life. Physical activity keeps us mentally and physically healthy. Help your child develop active habits at a young age by following these tips.