As a parent, you want your children to be active and healthy. You want them to get outside to play and enjoy the weather. However, the reality is that there are a lot of reasons why kids want to stay inside.
Image credit: John Kasawa | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
They have fun video games to play, and they can chat with their friends online. The pull of technology can be too great to conquer.
Fortunately, there are a few ways you can encourage your children to get moving.
Get a family pet
One great way to encourage your children to get moving is to get a family pet such as a dog. Since dogs require plenty of exercise and play time, your kids will have to be active to take care of them.
They will have to walk the dog, throw him balls in the yard and even bathe him every week.
It doesn’t seem like such work to play outside. Instead, the dog keeps the kids happy and busily engaged in physical activity. If your children have been begging for a pet, explain to them their responsibilities as pet owners and have them agree to the extra activities before pursuing the adoption.
Sign them up
Another great way is to sign your kids up to play a sport. There are lots of opportunities for kids to play sports on school teams, in community leagues or even just for fun at the local YMCA. Talk it over with your kids to see if they would prefer basketball, tennis, wrestling or swimming.
If sports aren’t right for your kids, other activities like dance class, theater camp, and gymnastics can get them equally active. There are a variety of sports lessons and kids’ dance classes that are guaranteed to get your kids interested in moving.
Do it as a family
Your kids will mirror your behavior, so if you want them to get moving, you have to get moving as well. Plan family activities to get you all off of the couch. You can go hiking on trails, walk around the neighborhood, bike to a special location or start a family volleyball game in the backyard after dinner.
Find an outdoor hook
The trick to encouraging your child to get moving is to find an outdoor activity they love. Maybe your children would enjoy planting a garden and tending to it each week. Maybe they would like to jump on a trampoline or practice skateboard tricks on a ramp. Invest a little money to get them excited to move.
Assign physical chores (that pay, of course)
As a parent, you can always assign your kids physical chores to get them moving, and the motivating factor is money. Pay your kids to wash the cars, clean the windows on the house or plant new flowers around the mailbox.
You can encourage your kids to get moving. You just have to get creative to do it.
Information on getting kids active has been furnished by Intrigue Dance, a company that offers kids dance classes in Chicago.
Kandace Heller
Latest posts by Kandace Heller (see all)
- Removing Aggression and Tension: 5 Family Activities to Help Keep Stress from the Home - June 4, 2014
- 7 Survival Tips for Going on a Business Trip - May 23, 2014
- Best Ways to Encourage Your Children to Get Moving - May 5, 2014