Anyone with children can attest that most kids are naturally wired to love physical activity and to move around. Whether the little daredevils are trying to push the merry-go-round at the nearest playpark to its limits to spin each other as fast as possible or throwing your couch cushions on the floor to play, the floor is lava – children love to find a way of letting off steam.
However, in our digitized world, it has become increasingly more challenging for parents to encourage their children to put down their tablets, gaming consoles, mobile phones, etc., in favor of going outside and playing with others. As a result, studies have shown that 74% of children between five and ten don’t get enough physical activity daily for various reasons.
Whether they have a demanding school life, a lack of role models, busy parents, or generally feel they lack the skills for most physical activities – it can be challenging for parents to promote activeness to their children. Nevertheless, exercise promotes healthy growth and development; therefore, it is essential that parents praise, reward, and encourage their children to engage in physical activity. To make this easier, we list several means of encouragement below:
Turn Exercise Into A Form Of Transportation
Raising children between juggling your personal and professional life can be challenging for many moms; therefore, we understand if you often take shortcuts to make this balance more manageable. Parents often use their cars as a convenient shortcut while trying to juggle the demands of their children because it saves time and allows them to use the time devoted to getting more tasks done.
Whether you’re dropping your children off at school, running them to the shops to pick up some last-minute items, or taking them over to a friend’s house – it can be too easy to rely on our cars to transport them back and forth. However, continuous use of the vehicle can cause your children to become reliant on this transportation method and, in turn, yourself to take them places.
To prevent them from adopting this mindset, find creative ways to turn exercise into a form of transportation for you and your children. For instance, if you’re a stay-at-home parent, you could consider walking your children to and from school each day, or if they have bikes, you could encourage them to use them to take themselves places instead of relying on you for a lift.
If you opt for the latter option, ensure that you drill the importance of bike safety into your children so that they know the dangers and are more competent riders. As another safety precaution, you may also want to take out bike insurance using providers like Velosurance, which will protect your children and their bikes against accidental damage or theft.
Each of their policies can be customized to include additional features or coverages, which allows you to pay for the parts you need. Consider learning more by visiting their website or contacting a team member directly to ensure you and your children are protected against any potential issues that could arise while getting the physical activity they need.
Be An Active Role Model
Not only is it essential to encourage your children to take part in physical activity using your voice, but it is also essential to reflect your teachings in your own behavior. This is because children often use mimicry to emulate the authoritative figures around them; for instance, if your children hear you using foul language, they are more likely to repeat it since they’ve heard you use it.
Due to this, it’s crucial that you demonstrate your teachings by participating in physical activity yourself so that you can ensure that the appropriate behaviors you display are being imitated. You can do this by organizing activities for the whole family that get you all out and exercising, such as hikes, group classes, or days out.
Seeing their parents participating in physical activity first-hand will encourage children to join in themselves. Additionally, the more they see you promoting and enjoying exercise, the more likely they’ll exude these views for the rest of their lives and pass them on to their children when that time comes.
Purchase Toys That Promote Activeness
In the digital age that we live in, it can be easy for children to be influenced by gadgets their peers have, like the latest iPhones, gaming consoles, etc. Although there is nothing wrong with succumbing to your child’s clamoring for the latest pieces of tech, it is also important to purchase toys that will help promote their growth and development.
Especially if you have a busy work schedule, you may not always have the time to organize family activities that promote physical activity; therefore, it’s essential to take the stress off yourself and purchase active toys to help your child get their necessary sixty minutes of exercise a day. You can do this by giving them easy access to balls, jump ropes, climbing frames, and other active toys.
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