“All work and no play make Jack a dull boy”, that’s what we grew up hearing. However, now work has been replaced by gadgets. You would understand if you see your kid glued to the sofa or bed playing games on smartphones and tablets all day long.
Let’s just be honest, it is the last thing we want. After all, we understand the imperativeness of an active lifestyle. Active children are more likely to be healthy, have a healthy weight, better brain and cardiovascular health, have stronger immunity, and better cognitive skills and brain functions, to name a few.
Children belong in the playground, not in front of the television and other gadgets. So, if you are struggling to encourage your kids to be more physically active, here are a few tips that can help.
Reduce screen time
When do children use a smartphone or tablet? When they have nothing to do. Instead of going outdoors, they prefer to play games on their gadgets. So, in a nutshell, gadgets are the culprits. Hence, the obvious solution is to cut their screen time.
When they don’t have their gadgets to play with, they would prefer to go outside and play. It would also help if you reduce their dependence on gadgets. For instance, if they like to solve puzzles, encourage them to do the same in newspapers, rather than their gadgets.
Be a role model, let them learn from you
Kids pick up what they see. So, if you are leading a sedentary lifestyle, it’s very likely that your kids will do the same. Hence, you must make a change in your lifestyle if you expect your children to lead an active lifestyle.
It is highly advised that you incorporate exercise into your routine. If you haven’t exercised in a long time or never in your life, you can start by taking a short walk, and then move towards challenging exercises gradually.
Include them in your exercise routines and physical activities
Who could benefit from an evening walk? Both you and your child. It will be a good idea to encourage your child to join you as you go about leading an active lifestyle throughout the day.
Your goal here should be to make exercising fun for your child. So, feel free to indulge in physical activities like hide and seek, hopscotch, chase and run, etc with your child..
Seek help when doing chores
Have to run down to the market to buy some groceries? Seek your kid’s help. They will not only be leading an active lifestyle by indulging in household chores, but they will be also helping you by taking some things off your plate.
Having said that, grocery shopping is just one of the many ways. You can ask them to help you in cleaning. If you think that would be too much to ask, then it will be sufficient if you let them be responsible for their own chores. For instance, the next time you see their room unclean, encourage them to clean it themselves. Do not do it on their behalf.
You can never teach responsibility to kids if you do their chores all the time, and hand them a silver spoon.
Support them if they want to get enrolled in classes
Remember, your kids have a lot of leisure time to spare. But it won’t always be the same when they grow up. So, now is the time to enrol them in some fun activities that they can do together with the kids of their age. Feel free to enrol them in swimming classes, tennis classes, dance classes, singing or any activity of their liking. This way, they will also develop a hobby if they do not have any. You might as well be nurturing their hidden talent.
Closing thoughts
Instilling a love for physical activity in our children is a crucial responsibility that can set the foundation for a lifetime of health and happiness. By incorporating these effective ways to promote physical activity into our daily routines, we can empower our children to embrace an active lifestyle and reap the countless benefits it offers.
Whether it’s through playful activities, sports, outdoor adventures, or family involvement, let’s encourage our kids to move, explore, and discover the joy of being physically active. As they grow, they will not only develop strong bodies and minds but also cultivate essential life skills like discipline, teamwork, and self-confidence. Together, let’s embark on this journey of fostering healthy habits and watch as our children flourish, both on and off the field, as they become the best versions of themselves.
