How can I increase my children’s physical activity?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:It's important to establish a year-round plan to ensure your children get plenty of physical activity and establish habits for lifelong good health. Try the following:- Get off the sofa and away from the computer! Active parents have children who are five to six times more physically active than children of couch potatoes.
- Plan all-season family activities. Walk for 45 minutes after dinner, take children to a swim club twice a week, go on weekend hikes, or do tasks around the yard.
- Make exercise a community effort. Call teachers, neighbors and parents of your children's friends. Plan activities together and lobby your school board. Get daily physical education back into your school!
It's important to establish a year-round plan to ensure your children get plenty of physical activity and establish habits for lifelong good health. Try the following: Get off the sofa and away from the computer! Active parents have children... More -
National Academy of Sports Medicine answered:Increase children’s physical activity by encouraging them to join you in daily exercise and by limiting their sedentary time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, parents should limit the time allowed for watching television, playing video games, and surfing the web to no more than 2 hours per day. In addition, help change your child’s attitude and behavior toward exercise by expressing positive feelings about exercise. Children may not be as enthusiastic about physical activity if they hear negative thoughts about exercise. Instead, try incorporating various activities into the family’s routine. The following are ways to help increase a child’s physical activity:
Walk with your child around the neighborhood
Take your child to a public playground
Play tag with the family
Enroll you child in a structured sports program
Keep in mind that activities chosen should be age-appropriate. Ensure safety by providing protective equipment in the form of helmets, wrist and knee pads. Also, younger children can strengthen muscles by playing on a jungle gym or through gymnastics. As they get older, parent’s can then encourage adolescents to start structured weight training programs.Increase children’s physical activity by encouraging them to join you in daily exercise and by limiting their sedentary time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, parents should limit the time allowed for watching... More -
Todd Townes - Sharecare Fitness Expert of Sharecare Fitness answered:The first thing you can do is set a good example. If you want your child to be more active you must be active yourself. Other helpful suggestions would be limit the number of hours spend in front of a screen, establish a routine and set aside time each day for physical activity, and keep your child’s interest by making it fun!
The first thing you can do is set a good example. If you want your child to be more active you must be active yourself. Other helpful suggestions would be limit the number of hours spend in front of a screen, establish a routine... More -
Penny Ragusano answered:The best way to increase your children's physical activity is to provide them opportunities and also to join in! Plan activities with their friends that require physical movement/play. Turn off the screen (TV, Computer, iPad, iPod, iPhone) and get moving. When they see you making physical activity a priority and including them, they will be influenced in a positive way. Before you know it, they will love how good it feels to get their bodies active and need less motivation to keep it going.
The best way to increase your children's physical activity is to provide them opportunities and also to join in! Plan activities with their friends that require physical movement/play. Turn off the screen (TV, Computer, iPad, iPod, iPhone) and get... More -
Amy Colgan-Niemeyer answered:Make a game of it. The next time your child has friends at the house for a party or sleep-over, plan activities that keep them all moving. Set up an obstacle course in the back yard or nearby park, play charades, organize a scavenger hunt, etc. Make it fun, and the kids will love it, and hopefully make fitness a lifestyle that continues on through adulthood.Make a game of it. The next time your child has friends at the house for a party or sleep-over, plan activities that keep them all moving. Set up an obstacle course in the back yard or nearby park, play charades, organize a scavenger hunt, etc.... More
