Encouraging kids to exercise can be a problem if they don’t associate exercise with having fun. It is also more difficult for you as a parent encouraging kids to exercise if you haven’t made a habit of introducing lots of fun movement and exercise from a very young age – but you can do it!
Let them copy your behaviour
If you show them that its important to take care of yourself by making exercise a priority, your children are more likely to view exercise as normal, fun, beneficial and important for them. The truth is that exercise really is important to your child’s development!
If you act like exercise is a boring chore, your children will also take your lead. Be encouraging about the advantages of exercising and minimise the negatives – both to yourself and to your children. Never complain about ‘having to go’ to the gym in front of them!
Listen to them if they are reluctant
If children are negative about physical activity, listen respectfully and let them know you acknowledge their feelings. It is only when children feel that their concerns are being heard, that they become ready to hear what you have to say. Then, you can move on to brainstorming fun ways to get exercise – one of my favourites is ‘I bet you can’t get a goal past me in the park!‘ – and join them for a football kick-around in the park. Kids absolutely love this, and adults find they do too!
When encouraging kids to exercise, make it fun for them
If something is fun, your child is much more likely to want to repeat it. But do remember that every child’s definition of fun is different, so try a family bounce around at a trampoline park; take a beach ball to the beach; go swimming with the kids; or organise a picnic with some bats and balls, which will encourage some fun running around.
If your child needs help, enlist a specialist children’s fitness trainer
When encouraging kids to exercise, this is a brilliant option for children who might be overweight, self-conscious or not used to exercise. You should never under-estimate how low your child’s confidence and self-esteem can be when they see their school peers, friends and siblings happily running around, when they cannot.
A good trainer will be extremely supportive to your child, as well as motivational and hugely confidence-boosting for them.
It is a very delicate thing to talk about exercising to an overweight child. Never use the word “fat” to a child, never use the word “diet” and never let your child believe it is their sole responsibility to regulate their weight – you are in it together.
Right now, more overweight and under-confident children are ‘re-discovering themselves’ and having fun in structured programmes created by a fitness trainer who is experienced at working with children.
When encouraging kids to exercise, set them up for success
Limit your young child’s screen time to just an hour or two a day! The more time spent in front of a computer, TV, phone, etc., the more you are breeding the habit of a sedentary lifestyle into them – and the less time is available to be physically active (or read and partake in other beneficial activities).
Whether they see it or not, children crave and appreciate structure, boundaries and direction. So limit screen time, make sure they know they are getting active regularly and balance it all with a healthy, fresh food and quality family time.
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