10 Ways to Encourage Your Child to Be Physically Active

Children need to stay active for optimal health. Regular physical activity helps increase good cholesterol and decrease unhealthy triglycerides, thus decreasing their risk of heart and blood vessel disease.

Make physical activity a priority with your kids by encouraging them to walk or ride bikes to school, join a sports team, take martial arts lessons or go hiking together as a family.

1. Set a good example.

Kids often copy the behaviour and habits of their parents, including physical activity. Children who witness their parents taking part in sports and physical activities are more likely to engage in similar pursuits themselves.

Assist your child in finding an activity she enjoys—not necessarily organised sports such as basketball or volleyball, but other creative forms of expression like dancing or theatre may work just as well! Be sure that whatever activity she chooses is age-appropriate and safe.

Reducing screen time daily frees up time for other activities. Playing “Simon Says” or other interactive games to get kids moving can help give their minds and bodies the exercise they need.

2. Get Moving at Home

Kids need 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and making time for physical activity in their everyday lives at home can help build healthy habits for life.

Get your children moving by making physical activity fun! Give them access to toys like jump ropes and balls; playing active games such as Simon Says is another effective way of increasing physical activity levels.

Encourage children to set small, achievable goals, such as how many jumping jacks or squats they can complete in a day, to stay engaged and motivated. Setting small milestones like this will keep their interests fresh while keeping motivation at an all-time high.

3. Encourage physical activity in the classroom.

School administrators have increasingly prioritised academics over recess and physical education classes, yet there are ways to encourage their students to remain physically active throughout the classroom day.

Encourage kids during childcare to stay active outside of school by restricting television and device time and encouraging extracurricular activities like sports teams or running clubs.

Add movement to classroom learning by including five-minute motion movements during transition times or using products like Kore WOBBLE to break up lessons. When possible, try walking or biking to school or around town whenever possible.

4. Encourage physical activity outside the classroom.

Engaging children in outdoor play offers numerous physical advantages throughout childhood, including healthier bodies and stronger immune systems.

Schools as well as working parents can encourage kids physical activity by providing walking routes, exercise equipment, and outdoor spaces that support active learning during recess time. Teachers can also incorporate physical activity into classroom instruction.

Teens often struggle to reach the recommended hour of physical activity daily due to busy schedules. Engaging them in community sports teams or after-school activities may help, as this provides them with an opportunity to discover an activity they enjoy that could become a lifelong hobby.

5. Create a safe place for your child to play.

Children are naturally curious and creative, so it is essential to provide them with freedom of movement in a safe environment. Make sure all household dangers, including cleaning products, choking hazards, and sharp objects, remain out of their reach.

Make them active together and help them develop basic sports or physical activity skills. Make sure their carers (daycare providers or babysitters) also promote healthy habits; especially with adolescents seeking approval and encouragement from peers, this role modelling could prove especially helpful! Be an example!

6. Get Active with Your Child

Help your child discover an activity they enjoy; doing something they find satisfying will keep them engaged for longer and will increase their chances of sustained participation in moderate activities such as walking, dancing, and biking, as well as certain forms of sports like these moderate ones:

Avoid unnecessary commutes by selecting schools and extracurricular activities near home to minimise sedentary time for your child. Also, ensure their schedule doesn’t become overburdened with homework, music lessons, and other planned activities.

Focus on having fun and get everyone in on it.

7. Take a family walk or hike.

Going on walks or hikes with your children can be an excellent way to introduce them to nature while providing physical exercise and teaching them about different plants and trees.

Children who don’t consider themselves naturally active may feel intimidated to participate in physical activities for fear of failure, embarrassment, or bullying; these kids need all the assistance available.

Remind yourself that leading by example is key to encouraging children to be physically active; just telling your child about being more active won’t do it for them!

8. Walk or ride a bike with your child.

Physical activity is vital for children. It can help them excel in school, sleep more peacefully at night, and reach a healthy weight; additionally, it strengthens bones, muscles, and joints.

Parents can make it easier for their children to be active by providing equipment, enrolling them in sports teams and activities, taking them to parks and playgrounds, going for family walks and encouraging walking or riding bikes instead of driving. Playing hide-and-seek or tag games and getting their heart rates pumping can all help promote physical activity in children.

9. Take Your Child to the Gym

Children aged 6 or over require at least an hour of physical activity each day in forms they find enjoyable, such as dancing, playing outside, or video gaming.

Make exercise enjoyable with kid-friendly equipment such as hula hoops or soccer balls or by playing active games such as hide-and-seek or tag. Also encourage team or group sports such as gymnastics, dance, and swimming, as well as going with you to the gym so they can learn strength training and cardio exercises together.

10. Encourage Your Child to Try a New Activity

If your children haven’t found something physical they enjoy yet, perhaps now is the time to experiment. Just make sure it remains simple at first.

Encourage them to play activities that raise their heart rates, such as jumping rope or jogging. Make sure they have everything necessary for participation within reach so they remain focused while playing. This will keep their focus on the task at hand and keep their spirits high!