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Any parent who has ever spent time with children on a playground knows that most kids love to play and move around. Unfortunately, as kids get older they tend to stop engaging in as much physical play and often begin embracing a more sedentary lifestyle.
It's best for parents to step in and start encouraging greater levels of activity as soon as they realize this is a problem. Read on to find out how to encourage older children to be more physically active so they can develop positive habits and get set up for a lifetime of good health.
Emphasize Having Fun
Kids won't want to participate in sports and other physical activities they don't enjoy. Parents can help by helping their children explore options extending beyond school-sponsored sports. For kids that love spending time in and out on the water, Sunshine Destin offers all kinds of opportunities for increased activity.
Get Involved
Research shows that participating in physical activities as a family offers kids more than just health benefits. It also helps them learn about teamwork, decision-making, and leadership skills. Plus, if kids have good role models for staying active and making positive, healthy lifestyle choices, they'll be far more likely to adopt those same habits themselves.
Set Limits on Screen Time
There are many reasons today's children tend to be less active, but increasing screen time is certainly one of the most obvious of them. Recent research shows that children under the age of five are spending more time in front of screens than pediatricians recommend, with over 75% of children under two exceeding the guidelines and 64% of 2-5-year-olds doing the same. Setting limits on daily screen time is a good way to encourage kids to get outside, stay active, and engage with the world around them in a less technologically mediated way.
Ask for Help With Active Chores
Parents who offer their kids allowances for helping with chores can do double duty by assigning or encouraging them to choose active, outdoor activities like raking leaves, watering plants, sweeping, and pulling weeds. As with more obviously recreational activities, participating in these kinds of active chores together can make them more fun and give kids positive role models. Try making chore time fun by putting on upbeat music and joining in on yard work, cleaning, and other physically active household tasks.
Look Into Alternative Sports
Most kids only participate in sports if there are programs available through their schools, but not everyone enjoys traditional team sports. Try to encourage kids to explore different types of sports and team-based physical activities. Look into local leagues, sports clubs, and youth facilities.
Encourage Activity, But Don't Go Overboard
While it's very important to encourage kids to get enough physical activity every day, it's equally essential to make sure they're not going overboard. Exercise shouldn't hurt. If kids who are training for sports, doing chores, or participating in any other physical activity are complaining about pain, make sure they slow things down or switch to less vigorous activities.
It's also smart to make sure there's a balance between physical development and scholastic achievement. If playing sports or getting other forms of exercise seem to be interfering with school or other social activities, that's also a problem. Aim for encouraging young children to incorporate active play into their daily routines and try to get older kids to exercise for around 60 minutes per day.
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