Do you have a child who would rather lounge around inside the house than go outside and play? If you answered yes to that, you're not alone. Statistics show that only about 1 in 3 children participate in physical activity each day. Unfortunately, a lack of physical activity can lead to childhood obesity. Luckily, there are some things you can do to get your child on their feet. Here are three simple steps you can take to help get your child physically active.
Choose an Activity
When it comes to getting your child active, the most important thing you can do is make it fun. If your child doesn't enjoy the activity, they're not going to enjoy participating – which means they're going to make excuses to stay indoors. To keep your child interested in the activity, let them participate in the selection.
Focus on things that your child enjoys doing. For instance, if they enjoy jumping and other physical activities, consider enrolling them in a tumbling class. If they enjoy the water, get them involved in swimming. Once you've found an activity that your child enjoys, make sure you keep it fun. As soon as it becomes a chore, your child may no longer enjoy participating in it.
Make Room for Growth
If your child is young, you'll want to choose an activity that is geared towards their own level of development. However, you'll also want to choose something that allows for growth. Swimming and tumbling, as discussed above, are activities that your child can grow into. For instance, with tumbling, your child can start out in a beginners group, learning basic tumbling moves. As your child matures, they can move on to more advanced gymnastics classes.
Get the Family Involved
Another great way to encourage physical activity is to make it a family-centered effort. Once you choose an activity for your child, get the entire family involved in it. Whether you find classes that allow family participation or you simply show up as a family to support your child's efforts, you'll be creating an atmosphere that encourages family time.
If you're having a hard time finding ways to keep your child physically active, don't be discouraged. You just haven't found the right activities yet. With some careful planning, you can get your child out of the house and enjoying physical activities. The tips provided here will help you find the perfect way to get your child active.
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