Kids of all ages love to play, and running around is good for their bodies and their minds. Help them stay active by making exercise fun and giving them many chances to get exercise.
Very Young Children
It’s important to teach kids how much fun it is to lead active lives, and the good news is that they’re good at making up their own games. Try connecting with other parents of small children to form play groups — not only do the kids learn how to get along with other children, the parents of the play group can take turns watching the kids for an afternoon, leaving everyone more free time.
Suggest simple games for the children to play, or hold a “mini-Olympics” with races and other events the kids will love. Make sure no one feels left out by paying attention to each child’s strengths and praising them for the things they can do. Give them a sense of responsibility by letting them help with grown-up tasks, like weeding and yard work. For a change of scenery, consider taking them to a nearby park with a jungle gym or other play equipment.
Grade School
As kids enter grade school, it’s easy for fitness and playtime to get lost in the shuffle of schedules and activities, but it’s still important for them to stay active. Let them know that you support them by making sure they’re allowed some outdoor activity time every day. Sometimes that might mean making exceptions, like giving them time to play outside before they do homework if you know it’s going to get dark early.
Grade school is also a great time to introduce kids to a wide range of games and sports so they can discover what they like. Let them try lots of activities, and don’t worry too much if they lose interest in things. They’ll figure out which ones they love over time.
Middle School & High School
In middle school and high school, kids get many chances to participate in team sports and activities. Team sports teach great life lessons about respect, self-esteem and working with others.
There are, however, reasons why kids sometimes don’t want to join teams. If your child is afraid that he or she isn’t good enough for a team, offer to practice with him or her to build confidence. If your child still prefers not to join teams, then you shouldn’t try to force them. There are many ways for kids to get exercise that don’t involve team sports. Activities like cross-country running, biking, skateboarding and rollerblading are great ways to get exercise. See if your child is interested in single-person sports, like track events, tennis or gymnastics. These can provide the support of a group while still letting kids do their own thing.
Children are naturally curious and active, and showing them the fun of exercise when they’re young helps build confidence and create good lifelong fitness habits. Make them feel good about exercise by praising them when they reach goals. Let them figure out what they like by trying different things. They’ll get exercise doing what they love and you’ll feel better knowing they’re staying fit.
