Exercise is a fundamental aspect of health that we all need. However, many adults find it hard to make time for exercise and maintenance, let alone parents who are busy with their kids. As a parent, you know how difficult it can be to get your kids to eat healthy foods or even sit down for meals. So why would getting them moving be any easier? It's not! But luckily there are ways you can encourage your child's fitness without pushing too hard:
The Case for Exercise
- Exercise can help your child build muscle. Your child's body needs the right amount of protein and calories to grow, but it also needs exercise. When kids are active, they build strength and muscle mass.
- Exercise helps kids stay healthy. Physical activity can help prevent many diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity later in life by improving blood pressure control, cholesterol levels, and body composition (how much fat vs muscle).
- Exercise makes kids more active in their daily lives - even if it's just going outside for recess! It gives children something to look forward to every day; a chance for them to get away from their desks or screens (and maybe even get some fresh air) while doing something fun with friends at school or after class outside on the playgrounds nearby our apartments near DC!
- Encouraging children towards physical activities early on will make them more likely to stick with healthy habits throughout adulthood - whether that means joining soccer teams during elementary school years followed by swimming lessons when middle school begins; learning how to snowboard down mountainside trails during high school days then participating in marathons after college graduation day next year!
Helping Your Child Get Started With Exercise
- Start small.
- Set realistic goals and don't overdo them.
- Be patient with yourself, your child, and the activity you choose to do together!
- Make sure that you are comfortable with whatever activity you choose to do together before starting out. This will make it more enjoyable for both of you as well as ensure that neither one of you gets injured in the process which could lead to discouragement or frustration (and probably won't help anyone).
If you are going to be doing a physical activity, make sure that you have all the proper equipment for it. This includes appropriate clothing, footwear, and any necessary gear such as helmets or knee pads.
What Parents Can Do to Encourage Physical Activity
- Encourage your child to participate in physical activities.
- Set a good example by being active yourself, and find activities that your child enjoys so they can spend time with you while also getting some exercise.
- Make sure your child has the right equipment for their activity, including shoes that fit properly and meet safety standards (for example, no flip-flops or high heels on the playground). And make sure they have clothing that's appropriate for whatever sport or activity they're doing--long pants aren't always necessary for soccer but might be required for boxing class!
Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the U.S., and childhood obesity can lead to health problems later in life (such as diabetes), as well as affecting self-esteem issues during adolescence when kids are trying so hard not only physically but emotionally too."
A Healthy Weight for Your Child
It's important to know if your child is at a healthy weight.
- The first step in determining this is by using the BMI (body mass index). This measurement uses height and weight to predict whether or not your child has an appropriate amount of body fat for his or her age.
- If you find that he/she is overweight, underweight, or obese, there are several steps you can take:
- Encourage physical activity in everyday life such as walking instead of driving when possible and playing outside with friends instead of sitting around watching TV.
- Provide healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables rather than sweets or chips which may increase hunger pangs later on in the day causing overeating at meals later in the evening which leads again back into unhealthy habits if repeated often enough over a time period which could lead eventually down the path towards obesity if continued long enough without intervention from outside sources such as dietitian etcetera...
Kids need to find the right exercise for them.
As your child gets older, they should have a variety of exercise options.
- Find something they enjoy. It's important that kids find the right type of exercise for them. If you have a child who hates team sports but loves playing basketball in the driveway with their friends, then encourage them to do so!
- Find something that is fun. A good way to get kids excited about exercising is by making it seem like a game or competition--and this can be done through group activities as well as solo workouts (like when I play tennis).
- Find something they can do with friends or family members: Even if your child isn't interested in organized sports leagues yet, there are plenty of other ways he or she can get active with peers at school or church events; try offering encouragement instead of discouragement when it comes time for practice!
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you to understand how important exercise is for children. It's never too early to start, and the benefits can be lifelong. As parents, we can help our kids find the right types of activities for them--either alone or with us as a family. If your child still isn't getting enough physical activity, take a look at our other articles on how to encourage healthy habits in your household.
