How to Encourage Your Kids to Be More Active

Every parent wants what’s best for their kids, especially when it comes to their health. There’s no denying that regular exercise and physical activity is important for your child’s health, both physically and mentally. But encouraging your child to stay active can sometimes be difficult, since most kids aren’t interested in working out. Thankfully, there are several activities that children can get involved in that aren’t just fun and interesting for them, but can also be a great way to stay active. If you want your child to exercise more often, here are some of the best ways to encourage them to be more active.

Playing Sports

Playing sports is a lot of fun for kids and there are plenty of benefits to it aside from the obvious physical ones. You can use baseball simulators at home that are great for large back yards and a fun way to spend time together as a family, or get your child involved with local kids’ sports groups that will not only give them a reason to get active on a regular basis, but also teach them some crucial skills such as teamwork and persistence that will stand them in good stead for the rest of their life.

Active Games

We all know that kids love to play and if your child enjoys video games on a gaming console, the good news is that you can lean into this rather than try to discourage it when it comes to keeping them active. Not only has playing certain video games been proven to be educational for kids, but there is now a wide range of active games that you can invest in to keep your child moving while having fun at the same time. Virtual reality headsets are now available for home use and can be a lot of fun for kids while immersing them in games where they are going to have to move around a lot, providing hours of fun and plenty of physical activity.

Get Out as a Family

If you want to encourage your children to be more active, one of the best ways to do this is to plan things together. Family walks and cycle rides, for example, aren’t just a great way to get some more exercise on a weekend; they also give you a chance to catch up with one another as family members and strengthen the bond that you have.

Make It Easy

For kids that are a little bit older and have maybe started thinking about working out in a more structured way or using more ‘grown-up’ exercise machines or weights, supporting them in this and making it easy for them to access is a great way to encourage them to stay active. Setting up a small home gym in a spare room for the family to use is a great way to ensure that your child always has access to the equipment that they need whenever they want to exercise.

Set a Good Example

Last but not least, kids tend to follow the examples that their parents set for them so it’s important to demonstrate what healthy physical activity looks like. It is also important to make sure that you are working out for your health and talk to your kids about this. Don’t body-shame yourself or your children when it comes to exercise since this is only likely going to have the opposite effect and might lead to self-esteem issues and potentially even eating disorders in the future.

If you are concerned about your child’s lack of exercise and want to encourage them to be more active, the best way to do this is through making it fun and easy for them to move more.