{"id":750,"date":"2021-10-25T04:27:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T04:27:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-12-12T12:22:16","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T04:22:16","slug":"how-to-inspire-your-kids-to-love-exercise-from-a-young-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/how-to-inspire-your-kids-to-love-exercise-from-a-young-age\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Inspire Your Kids to Love Exercise From a Young Age"},"content":{"rendered":"

The habits you form as a child can make all the difference when you\u2019re an adult. As a parent, if you inspire your kids to love exercise from a young age, they\u2019ll likely continue to have an active lifestyle as they get older.<\/p>\n

We know that sitting is the new smoking, and the modern lifestyle tends to be quite sedentary. This sedentary lifestyle complete with Netflix and tech gadgets for kids has them playing while sitting quite often. Today, the World Health Organization reports that 340 million children<\/strong><\/a> (ages 5 to 19) are obese. <\/strong>Astoundingly, 39 million children under 5 years old are also severely overweight. Sadly, obesity doesn\u2019t only impact one\u2019s self-esteem, but it can lead to the onset of many health conditions.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s up to you to lead by example, teach your kids the importance of an active lifestyle, and inspire your kids to love exercise. You can make exercise fun, by getting your kids involved in sports they love, dance classes, or even by planning family kayaking trips.<\/p>\n

Motivating your kids to eat healthily and stay physically active can combat their risk of obesity, even if they\u2019re genetically at risk due to a family history of obesity.<\/strong> Exercise is vital to children\u2019s holistic wellness because it helps them keep their bodies healthy. Expending energy also helps your kids fall asleep faster and get better quality sleep.<\/p>\n

Most of all, the health benefits of exercising<\/a> positively influence children\u2019s mental, emotional, and behavioural health. Exercise has been proven to boost their mood, enhance school performance, and reduce anxiety.<\/strong> In addition, if the activity is part of team sports, it will cultivate a sense of teamwork and help your kids foster beautiful friendships. Below are some helpful tips to inspire your kids to love exercise from a young age:<\/p>\n

Lead by Example and Model Active Behavior<\/h2>\n

As a parent, you play a crucial role in helping your children stay more physically active. However, you cannot merely tell your kids to engage in an exercise program. You have to walk the walk, because children observe what their parents do, and follow their parents\u2019 example.<\/p>\n

The kids have to love seeing you exercising and moving your body. Model good behaviour and show them that you enjoy exercise, because of what it can do for your health. For example, you can do fun Zumba guided exercise routines at home and encourage them to join you. Or, take them on scenic hikes with you.<\/p>\n

Remember, studies show<\/a> that habits learned in childhood are much likelier to stay with them into adulthood. Thus, if exercise and sports are a family priority, you can rest assured that your children will have a strong foundation to ensure a lifetime of healthy living.<\/p>\n

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Have an Enlightening Talk With the Family Doctor<\/h2>\n

During one of your well-child visits, collaborate with your paediatrician to speak with your children on the benefits of exercise and keeping physically fit<\/a>. Your doctor is an authoritative figure who can perfectly explain why physical activity should be a part of your family\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

With your doctor\u2019s guidance, your children will understand why they must incorporate exercise into their routine. Moreover, the doctor can help your children identify activities most suited for them and their age level.<\/p>\n

Encourage Them To Participate in Fun Activities or Sports<\/h2>\n

For your kids to love exercise, they have to enjoy it. It should be fun. Help each of your children discover a team sport or <\/strong>group activity<\/strong><\/a> that they genuinely enjoy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If your kid loves to swim, sign them up for a swim team. If they love to dance, enroll them in a dance class. Is it soccer that they\u2019re passionate about? Put them on a soccer team. If they feel passionate about something, it doesn\u2019t feel like hard work, and they\u2019ll look forward to it.<\/p>\n

You can try to sign your kids up for different sports and programs to see which physical activities they love the most. Allow them to experiment and find something they love. Apart from that, you can do family activities together like kayaking or playing basketball. Aside from getting exercise, you get to bond during these activities, too. When you do things together, the kids will enjoy it and associate positive memories with exercise. As a result, they feel more inclined to make it a life-long habit.<\/p>\n

Provide Them With a Safe and Comfortable Environment<\/h2>\n

As a parent, it\u2019s your job to provide your children with a safe and comfortable environment to exercise. If you encourage them to play sports, make sure they have the proper safety gear to avoid injuries.<\/p>\n

In addition, you have to invest in comfortable clothing and proper footwear. It can be quite icky to endure the sticky wet feeling in normal house clothes. Hence, if you want your children to keep on enjoying moving and sweating it out, buy them appropriate wear for exercise.<\/p>\n

Go online shopping so they can choose comfy moisture-wicking clothes in the designs they like and feel most comfortable in. In addition, having the right workout gear will keep them motivated to perform well.<\/p>\n

Choose an Age-Appropriate Activity<\/h2>\n

If you have children in different age groups, you have to plan ahead. Create a calendar and list down convenient times and ways for them to exercise. On top of that, you must keep their development in mind and choose physical activities that match their age group.<\/p>\n

To illustrate, a 7-year-old may not be ready for lifting heavy weights or running for a long time. However, activities like playing soccer, riding a bike, doing cardio dance, or swimming will work better. For younger kids, providing active toys like balls and jump ropes will do the trick. And don\u2019t forget to play with your children and have fun in each other\u2019s company.<\/p>\n

Enjoy the Great Outdoors Together<\/h2>\n

By introducing your kids to the great outdoors in a fun and exciting way that allows them to learn to love the beauty of nature, they\u2019ll want to get outside and exercise. The great outdoors is a vast playground waiting to be enjoyed.<\/p>\n

Apart from being the perfect setting for workouts with fresh oxygen, nature is very calming, serene and stunning. In fact, studies show that \u201cearthing\u201d<\/a> has a lot of benefits like boosting the mood, relieving stress, and improving energy levels. You can try different outdoor activities with the whole family. Check out these outdoor activity ideas below:<\/p>\n