Motivate Children to Exercise

Studies have shown an alarming increase in obesity in children. Encouraging children to exercise is the best way to prevent excessive weight gain and to keep them healthy.

You can begin by setting a good example yourself. It is hard to persuade your child to play outside instead of watching television, if you spend most of your own leisure time in front of the set. Investing in bikes and going on regular family bike rides can be a great exercise plan. Taking your children on walks to the stores and walking with them to school rather than using the car are also good ways to establish positive habits.

Encourage children in any aptitude they may show for a particular sport and work around problems that may prevent them from taking part. For example, an asthmatic child may have difficulty breathing while exercising, but increased fitness can actually improve asthma. In consultation with your doctor, a suitable routine can be developed. Swimming has been shown to cause exercise-induced asthma less often than other sports, and because children love playing in water, it's a great way to introduce them to exercise. Increasing your child’s fitness outside of school may also help him feel more confident about joining in school sports and other activities.

Making exercise fun is the best way to encourage it. If your children feel intimidated by the pressure of team sports, explore other exercise options with them. For example, orienteering, in which children learn map-reading skills while hiking, may suit a more introverted youngster.

Encourage young people to participate in exercises that are appropriate for their ages. During early childhood the focus should be on fun games and activities that develop the basic movement skills of running, balancing, jumping, kicking, and throwing. Between the ages of 6 and 12, more emphasis can be given to areas where a child shows a particular talent.