Kids & Exercise

Exercise is important for supporting your children’s wellbeing, but it can be very difficult to get kids motivated or interested in exercise, especially, if like me, you’ve never been a natural exerciser. Younger kids spend most of their days zooming around so they’re less of a worry, but as they get older and start finding other interests such as Netflix and video games, it gets a little harder to get them to do some daily activity. 

So what can you do to help encourage your kids to exercise? Here are some ideas to help you out so that the whole family can enjoy being active. 

Set a good example

One of the best ways to help explain the importance of exercise is to set a good example yourself. By exercising daily, you can show your kids that it’s a regular part of your routine, which will help it feel more natural to them too. While you might not always feel like it yourself, wanting to set the right example can also help to give you the push you need. I’ve recently started a home workout program, so the not being able to get to the gym is going to be less of an excuse, especially as it helps my mental health too.

Treat them to new fitness gear

Putting on some new workout clothes can be an excellent way to psyche yourself for a workout. Why not try the same tactic with your kids? Pick up some stylish boys tracksuits, and they’ll be sure to want to get started. Whether they’re into football, rugby or other kinds of activities, it’s surprising what some new clothes can do to help them get into sport!

Help them find an activity they enjoy

While there are some things we have to do that we don’t enjoy, like going to the dentist, we have to do them. For some kids, exercise is one of them. Kids can find it easier to stay active when they’re doing something they enjoy, and they won’t even know that they are exercising! From workout videos with you to fun activities in the park, try out different activities to help them find something that they love doing. 

Turn screen time into something more active

Kids spend a lot of time on screens these days, but there are some ways you can turn their interest into something more active. There are plenty of games out there that will help you get fit, creating a lot of fun for the whole family. Even if you can’t convince them to play fitness games, there could be some suitable YouTube videos that are ideal for getting your kids excited about fitness.

Helping kids enjoy exercise can be a challenge, but it’s a challenge worth sticking with to help them keep fit. Try different ways of being active together; it will help you all to get your daily exercise in and encourage some bonding time with the family. Teaching your kids the importance of exercise now will help them develop some beneficial habits for life, helping to keep them strong and healthy. It might even help you develop some healthy new habits too!