A New Year, a new resolution for your kids
Give your kids the opportunity to stay active! Children rely on parents to make physical activity easy by providing equipment, enrolling them in sports classes, and taking them to playgrounds or other active spaces. This article will share practical guides and tips to help your kids move more, build healthy habits, and enjoy an active lifestyle.
Choose the right activities
If your child is shy, aggressive sports like football may not be right for him, or if your child is not particularly fast, track may not be the best activity. Always discuss with your child to find out what activity excites her, and try to build on that excitement. If you don’t, the child may be bored or frustrated with working out.
Make fun the focus
Winning or “being the best” should never outweigh the joy of simply participating in a physical activity. Teach your child to always give his best effort, and to be proud of his accomplishments. Teach him to strive to be the best he can be, and always compliment his efforts.
Teach kids that physical activity improves cognitive skills
Exercise and physical activity benefits improved brain function. Exercise can, in fact, create a stronger, faster brain. Tell your kids that every form of exercise they do causes more blood to travel to the brain, which in turn helps new brain cells to grow, leading to better cognitive skills.
Teach kids how physical activity reduces stress
A brisk walk, a basketball game, or aerobics can help you relax, divert you from the causes of your stress and improve your mood and temper. If your child gets upset easily because she has a lot on her plate, get her to step back and take the time to “smell the roses” with an exercise break.
Make physical activity a family event
Walking’s not just good for your child, mummy and daddy can also get in those 10,000 steps a day too! Why not make it a family event and get the grandparents in on it too? Simply put, by making physical activity a family event, you are not only promoting a healthy lifestyle and good family time, you are being a good role model. Try to spend some time playing with your children or plan family walks every weekend.