Better Ways To Get Your Kids More Active

TOP WAYS TO GET YOUR KIDS TO BE MORE ACTIVE

It may sound cliche, but many kids these days do genuinely spend too much time indoors doing sedentary activities. Things like television, movies, video games, and browsing the web are fine ways for children to spend their time on occasion. However, in order to promote a healthy lifestyle, parents should make sure their kids are properly balancing sedentary activities with active ones. Everything is best in moderation. Many parents may not feel comfortable letting their kids “roam the streets” but there are plenty of fun, safe, and effective ways of getting your kids to be more active:

#1 GIVE YOUR KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE ACTIVE

If you don’t let your kids have fun outside or don’t enroll them in extracurricular activities, it’s highly likely that they will end up spending most of their time in front of the TV at home. Encourage your kids to enroll in activities after school. These activities will not only teach your kids to be more active, but they will also teach your kids about commitment, teamwork, and social skills. Some popular options include basketball, baseball, soccer, football, track, and many more. Check with your child’s school and consider your child’s interests for more ideas.

#2 LIMIT SCREEN TIME

You don’t have to ban TV or video games altogether. Moderation is what’s important. For example, you might want to set a rule that for every one hour of TV time, your child has to spend two hours outside. Some activities to fill the time outside could include walking the dog, playing with friends, going to the playground, and many more.

Many modern devices also come with parental controls that make limiting screen time easy. One app, called “Screentime,” for iOS and Android can be used to manage the amount of time kids can spend doing certain things on their phones or tablets. For example, you can set limits on the number of minutes your child can play video games per day. Many devices have features like these built it, so you may want to start paying more attention to parental controls.

#3 JOIN IN

Children, especially young children, imitate the behaviors of their parents. If you live a sedentary lifestyle, don’t be surprised if your child does the same. Sometimes, the best way to get your kids to be more active is to lead by example. You may want to play ball with your kids, take them to the park, or even just spend some time together outside.

If you really want to lead by example, consider joining Vargus Fitness kids program. Our fun exercises are designed to be inclusive to everyone. Call now to try a free session.