How To Add More Physical Activity To Your Child's Life

Young children nowadays have so many choices as to how they spend leisure time. Gadgets and computers have made it possible for kids to play their favorite sports without even going outdoors. If you try to evaluate the physical activity that your kid has, you may be surprised that viewing time and other sedentary activities occupy most of his time. Some parents are even guilty by not showing good examples. Though your little one may already be used to sedentary activities, it is never too late to start moving. Here are some tips on how you can encourage physical activity to your child:

1. Show your children that you can modify your regular activities into one, that can strengthen your body. An example is when you take your kid out, try to encourage walking by parking the car farther away. Take a walk together and try to use the stairs instead of elevators. Though the use of elevators may be quite convenient, it may deprive your body of the chance to expend energy.

2. Try to set a time for physical activity everyday. Find an activity that you can do with your child. Try to squeeze time in the day when you can walk your dog, or you can do a quick physical exercise together. Establish a recurrent physical activity that your child enjoys doing. This can encourage involvement and at the same time burn off extra calories.

3. Limit the child's screen time. Allow only two hours of viewing time during weekends, and maybe more during weekdays. This already includes time online and time spent on playing video games. Avoid putting television inside your kid's room because it can only promote sedentary behavior.

4. If the kid is into video games, choose activity-oriented video games because it calls for some sort of physical activity. Dance video games are great choices, as well as those which call for movement in order to control movements on the screen. Research has proven that kids who gave up sedentary screen time for active screen time doubled their energy expenditure.

5. Enable your kid to choose the activities that he would like to get involved with.
Some kids may love to get involved with group sports, although others may want to get dance lessons. Most youngsters may also not enjoy physical activities the way others do. If your child enjoys reading, you can walk or bike to the nearest library to get a book. It doesn't really matter what sort of activity your child loves doing, what matters the most is how you can add physical activity to his preferences.

Physical activity doesn't need to be really fancy like taking classes for a specific activity. Sometimes it will take a lot of silliness and creativity to get your child moving. Kids look up to their mothers and fathers, and if they see that you are doing what you can to take care of your body, odds are they may also follow. Physical activity is important simply because it does not only encourage a healthy weight, but it also sets the right foundation for proper health and fitness later on in life.


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