Exercise Can Be A Fun Game For Kids

All children need daily exercise to help develop and strengthen their muscles and bones. However for kids, exercise needs to be fun or they won’t do it.

Did you know that currently most kids in the U.S. spent more time inside the home watching television or playing computer games, than they do playing outside. Too many kids today are not active enough. And this is why the obesity rate among kids has doubled over the past twenty years in the U.S. More and more American children are now becoming fast food junkies and couch potatoes.

Lack of exercise is a major reason for the growing rate of obesity in children. Watching TV has long been linked to being overweight, and at the moment the number of children watching five or more hours of television per day has increased dramatically.

Instead of watching TV, children need to be encouraged to spend time each day playing and being physically active. Health professionals agree that physical activity is essential in helping children reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Exercise and physical activity can strengthen children's bones. Kids who participate in sports such as running, gymnastics, tumbling, and dance have higher bone density than children who are not active.

The U.S. government and numerous other health organizations now recommend that both children and adolescents take part in 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity at least 6 times a week.

Active children also increase their chances of becoming healthy adults. Children who enjoy exercise can actually develop a lifelong, healthy habit of being physically active. The longer kids stay active, the more benefits they will reap as adults.

They will enjoy better health and live longer. Physical activity is known to decrease the risk of obesity, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.

Motivating Kids To Exercise

To motivate kids to exercise, kids need to have fun! According to experts, children participate in physical activity for enjoyment and fun. So if you want your child to get up and exercise, introduce fun activities.

Encourage your child to swim, bike, or play ball with his/her friends, or take a 10-minute activity break every day after doing their homework, watching TV, or playing computer or video games.

Also motivate your child to participate in school sports and physical education classes. Exercise in school can be fun as your child will get to play with his or her friends.

Another way to involve you child in exercising is to get the whole family involved. Whether it’s playing tag sports in the backyard, or bicycling together, or playing any team sports such as soccer or baseball, get the whole family to join in. If you are involved, the chances of your child getting involved also increases. Participating in physical activities together can also help you to form a strong emotional bond your child.

Here Are Some Ideas To Get Your Kid Physical;

• Start them walking. Instead of driving to the grocery store, take you kids for a walk with you.
• Let them take the stairs, instead of using the elevator to get to the first or second floor.
• Pay your kid to walk to dog around the block every day.
• Have you child enrolled in a dance class or for little league baseball or football.
• Encourage your kids to use their bikes to visit their friends.
• You can also encourage your kid to get an odd job, like delivering newspapers or helping old ladies cross the streets.