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5 Ways to Encourage Your Child to Be More Active

Have you ever wondered whether your kids are getting enough exercise?

It’s easy to judge. “Back in my day, we played outside until the streetlights told us it was time to go home.”

But if you really think about how things have changed, it’s understandable that kids spend more time indoors. Not only are they enticed by video games, but we’re all guilty of spending too much time on our smartphones.

Still, understanding something and being okay with it are two different things. It’s never too late to get your kids interested in exercise.

Here are five ways to encourage your children to be more active:

  1. Lead by example

Have you ever tried telling your kids to do something that you don’t do yourself? Maybe it’s making the bed or putting the cap back on the toothpaste. We all know how that goes. If they see you breaking the rules, they’re going to do it too. On the other hand, when you lead by example, it’s much easier to get the kids on board.

You can make fitness a family event by setting goals for everyone, including yourself. Your goals can be something like how often you exercise, how many miles you run or bike, or how many inches you lose. Choose goals that mean something to you, so you’ll be more likely to stick to them.

  1. Buy new toys

Everyone loves new toys. To kickstart this more active life, start by purchasing some new active toys and/or gear. You don’t need to spend a lot of money, but some new gear can help anyone get motivated. For example, you can buy a used skateboard or bicycle on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. The things you buy don’t have to be new to the world as long as they’re new to your kids.

  1. Have fun with the family

Try to come up with at least one fun family activity that you can all do together. Consider softball games, volleyball, running or hiking. If you can find something that’s fun for everyone, it may just become the best bonding experience you’ve ever had.

The family that plays together stays together!

  1. Limit technology

If you aren’t doing this already, limit your child’s exposure to technology. If you limit television, smartphone and video game time, your kids may just be bored enough to do something active. This is another area where us parents have to practice what they preach. This may mean that we have to spend less time on social media. And yes, that means waiting until the end of the day to post those fun pics from your group family activity. Even the thought is enough to make you twitch, but the end result is well worthwhile.

Limiting technology for your children has two benefits. Your kids won’t develop a technology addiction, and they’ll also get more exercise. As a bonus, you may even get them to do some more chores. It’s a win-win-win!

If you’re still having trouble getting your children to be more active, try using technology as a reward for activity. For example, you may let your kid have an hour of technology for every hour of activity – but they can’t access technology until they complete some active time.

  1. Explain the benefits of a healthy lifestyle

We all want our kids to be healthy and happy. But as they get older, there’s only so much we can control. When they start making more of their own dietary choices, you may not always agree with them. A grilled cheese bacon cheeseburger? Um, ok. Can we get some veggies on that plate? Spoonfuls of icing from the container? No, that’s way too much sugar for any person. The repercussions of those choices can be dangerous – especially when you’re not exercising.

Nutrition may always be a battle, but if you can find ways for them to enjoy being active, you’re one step closer to healthy living.  Tell your kids why you want them to exercise more. Explain that exercise is good for your cardiovascular health. It can also help increase blood flow, which helps your body deliver nutrients to essential organs more efficiently.

When you encourage your kids to be more active, you can help them create healthy habits that will stay with them for a lifetime.

What’s your favorite way to be more active?

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