How to Get Your Kids to Be More Physically Active

Parents these days can struggle to ensure that their kids remain fit and healthy. This is understandable. Ten or twenty years ago kids would be outside playing with their friends. But these days it’s more likely that they will either be bingeing Netflix, downloading games on their phone, or playing Fortnite. Even activities that used to be popular with kids outdoors have now been replaced by other activities that require less effort such as using a segway and spending too much free time in front of a screen. These tips to encourage your children to workout will help develop healthy habits for the rest of their lives.

However, we know that teaching kids to be physically active starts by encouraging children to work out and exercise. Being active helps disease control, prevents heart disease, and helps maintain a healthy weight throughout their entire lives.

So, let’s look at some of the best ways that you can ensure that you do encourage your kids to get the workout they need to stay healthy through a variety of different activities. Establishing a daily routine for a healthy lifestyle starts with mom and dad. Let’s look at some ways to encourage your kids.

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To Encourage Your Children to Workout, Let Them See Mom and Dad Workout

We all know the benefits of exercise. How can we get our kids to want to work out? The number one way is to be a good role model. If you want active kids, they need to see mom and dad being active. Children imitate adults. If they see you do little physical activity, they will adopt a sedentary lifestyle. Generally, active children have seen active adults. There are a variety of ways to be model regular physical activity.

If you don’t like to go to a gym to workout or have spare cash to buy a Peloton, consider a daily walk or dancing in the living room for 30 minutes of physical activity a day.

Buy Them Some New Equipment 

First, you should think about getting some new equipment to workout with. You might think that your kids aren’t interested in exercise or sports. But perhaps they just don’t have the right gear. Maybe they would love a skateboard for their birthday or a new bike? This is something to keep in mind and it might be worth speaking to your child about this possibility. You need to find out what they want to do and we’re going to become back to this idea. 

Enroll Them in Team Sports

Young children love to play team sports such as soccer or baseball and softball. Youth sports organizations are a wonderful way to get regular exercise, increase physical activity and also participate in a team. Additionally, kids love to make friends and have the social experience of hanging out in the dugout and even going to the concession stand after the game.

What if your child doesn’t want to play a team sport? If you played sports when you were a child, talk about your experiences playing ball games with your child. Take a soccer ball and kick it around the front yard with your child. Find a tennis court to hit a few balls back and forth. Finding fun activities to try doesn’t mean that these will be the right activities for your child. Do not put pressure on your child to perform, but just encourage them to exercise and have fun.

Enroll in Active Play Experiences

Active play experiences such as roller skating, trampoline parks, or rock climbing establishments are all wonderful ways to encourage your children to increase their physical skills and are a great way to get active. Other ideas for active physical activities are fencing clubs, dancing, gymnastics, or martial arts.

Seek Inspiration From Their Heroes 

It’s easy to claim that the majority of celebs aren’t good role models for kids. But when it comes to fitness a lot of them are. Right now, the superhero craze is in full swing and that’s useful because most superheroes are fit and healthy. Even the younger heroes like Spider-Man are in great shape on the silver screen. You can explore things like a friendly, neighborhood workout, inspired by Tom Holland himself when you’re trying to get your kids more interested in fitness. 

Encourage Activities without Structure

What type of activities do your kids like to do? Consider going on a weekly family bike ride, or finding ways to have free play outside. Set up an obstacle course in the backyard for your kids to run, jump and increase their balance.

Take Them To The Gym to Encourage Your Children to Workout

You should also consider going to the gym with your kids. You might think that the gym is just for adults, but this isn’t the case at all. Indeed, the gym can be great for kids too. It gives them more options with their workout and makes it more fun for them at the same time. You can even make this a weekly family activity that you all do together. It’s far easier to keep it up when you are working out with one another. It will inspire everyone in the family to stay fit and healthy.

Find The Exercise They Love 

Finally, you should think about finding an exercise that is interesting and appealing to them. You might think that there are only a couple of fitness options that are going to appeal to kids or be relevant to them. However, we’re pleased to say that this isn’t most kids. There are lots of different options that you can explore when you’re looking for the right choice that they are sure to love. 

You need to start thinking outside the box with possibilities like this. Just remember that even if your child already spends hours of screen time each day, it is not too late to encourage your children to workout. For older children, this may take some extra creativity because they may be already set in their ways. However, you can surely find active games or workouts that young and old will like.

Homeschool Families Should Incorporate Physical Activity

If you are a homeschooling family, make sure to add a physical activity course to your instructions. Family Fitness from Schoolhouse Teachers (affiliate link) is a good place to start.

We hope this helps you understand some of the key strategies that you can use to ensure that your kids do get the workout that they need and that they deserve overall.