Did you realize that around one-quarter of kids get the hour of exercise a day that experts recommend?
Make sure your kid is active for at least an hour daily through structured sports or free-form active play. You can do so by making them physically active, educating them about healthy living, making fitness training a part of their daily routine, and spending more time outdoors in parks or playgrounds. You have to be a role model to encourage healthy habits in your children.
As children age, the level of physical activity drops dramatically. If you’re a parent, keeping your kid safe, healthy, and content must be at the top of your priority list. Parents should get the entire family involved in physical activities. Let’s make sure your kids stay fit and live an active life! Here are 11 suggestions to get your kid moving:
1. Offer Physical Education
Children require both unstructured play and structured physical education to develop healthy habits. Children can quickly achieve this objective by taking advantage of the physical education classes offered as part of their regular school schedule.
In case of a school cancellation or delay, it is essential to schedule daily time for your kids to participate in physical activity equivalent to what they would do at school. Please talk with your child’s doctor about how much exercise they need and what’s best for them.
2. Make Fitness Part of Your Child’s Day
During the school year, if your kids can ride a bike or walk there and back, they’ll get much exercise and reap the mental health advantages of being active. Provide active toys to your child, so they can stay engaged in some activity.
Walk or ride a bike with your children when they have free time over the school break, and plan outings as a family to go for short bike rides or walks around the neighborhood.
3. Be A Role Model
Even while kids can get enough exercise just by playing outside, it’s still important for parents to stress the benefits of physical activity to their offspring. A child identifies sports as fun, but you must teach them that it is also essential for their physical and mental health.
It’s a terrific idea to explain to your kid how playing outside benefits their body and mind as you enjoy some quality time together. Maintain a positive example for others. Kids learn to enjoy sports when they see their parents enjoying sports.
4. Limit Screen Time
Yes, it’s true. It’s much simpler to put the kids in the care of the internet and their mobile computing devices. Limit your child’s daily video games to less than an hour rather than just letting them spend most of their spare time in front of the TV or using a mobile device.
After that, they should engage in physical activity for the rest of their leisure time by getting them sports items or other active toys.
5. Create a Reward System
Praise them for finishing the week by letting them pick something enjoyable to do on the weekend. Maybe kids can choose from a few healthy options, like playing on the school playground or organizing a backyard soccer match for the whole family. Countless options exist.
6. Spend Time Outdoors
Children enjoy being outdoors. They have to take in many data through their senses. Instruct kids to spend as much time as possible playing outside. Set aside time to go for strolls, visit nearby parks, or enjoy some time in the backyard.
Children’s physical development is greatly aided by time spent playing outside, where they are free to run, climb, and use equipment like jungle gyms.
7. Talk To The Teachers And School
Parents know that kids take teachers as their role models and follow their instructions. You can request them to tell your kid to participate in school sports and physical activities. This can help your kid to be more active. You’ll see a gradual increase in your child’s physical and mental health.
8. Take A Non-Negotiable Position
Do you argue about simple things like whether or not your child should go to school, clean their teeth, or buckle up in the car? There is no reason to worry about your child’s well-being or health when engaging in any of these pursuits. Nixon argues that the same logic should be used for kids’ physical activity levels.
It’s common knowledge that maintaining a regular workout routine benefits your emotional and physical well-being. Don’t give in to your child’s arguments about how playing video games is more beneficial than playing ball games.
9. Choose A Fun Activity
When you find an activity your child enjoys, they are more likely to participate regularly. Instead of limiting yourself to the kinds of things that grownups would enjoy, try out a variety of possibilities until you find something that clicks with them.
Choose non-competitive games, so children under ten don’t experience any pressure or tension.
For older kids, the path will most likely lead them to a trendy activity like skateboarding, kung fu, hip hop dancing, gymnastics, or laser tag. Let the kids pick their physical activity as long as it’s not too strenuous or dangerous for their age.
10. Educate Your Child
Your youngster needs hands-on experience and academic understanding to develop a healthy lifestyle. Give a presentation of your own about the positive effects of exercise on your mood, health, and enjoyment of life.
Share with them the importance of a good diet in maintaining a healthy body and the benefits this knowledge can provide. Make it fun by holding a quiz or cooking healthy meals as a group.
11. Choose To Walk Or Bike Instead Of Drive
Instead of just sitting in a car, get the kids out and about as much as possible. If they are old enough (or you are old enough to accompany them), encourage them to walk or ride a bike to school daily if there is a predictable path.
Developing this practice at a young age is highly recommended. Don’t be a last-minute slacker and give yourself a minute or two less sleep than you usually would.
The Final Thoughts
Kids who exercise regularly may reap benefits beyond weight maintenance and disease prevention. A few studies have found that academic performance is higher among physically healthy students than their fewer fit counterparts. A child’s age determines how much physical activity they need.
Getting kids moving is a great way to help them focus their minds, reduce their stress levels, and channel their boundless energy. Don’t forget that not every child is the same.
Hi, my name is Jim Yi and I am a Registered Respiratory Therapist / Respiratory Care Practitioner.
I have been earning experience within these fields for over a decade, learning all there is to know about cardio-pulmonary medicine and how to care properly for the body. Alongside my studies, I also trained to become a Fitness and Weight Management Expert.
I have created ShapeDown.com to teach anyone who is willing to listen how to take care of their body. This can be through exercise, nutrition, lifestyle changes, or supplements. We’ll look through it all here.
You can strengthen your body, enrich it, improve your energy levels, and boost your immune system by making some simple lifestyle changes. If you want to make a change and start honoring your body instead of weakening it, let’s start right now. I promise you won’t regret it!
