According the American Council on Exercise, the child obesity rate has tripled since 1980, so it has never been more vital to encourage your children to be active in their daily lives. Children should have 60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. This time may be unstructured, or may be part of a physical education or exercise program.
Sports
Team sports not only provide children with supervised exercise, but they also teach social skills, such as teamwork, taking turns and good sportsmanship. Some popular team sports for children include soccer, basketball and competitive swimming. Look for a program through your local school, community center or town recreation center. If your child is not interested in team sports, consider individual sports, such as tennis or martial arts.
Physical Education Limitations
According to the National Institutes of Health, children are not getting all of the exercise that they need through public school physical education programs. Depending on the school district, your child may be getting as little as 30 minutes of physical education instruction weekly. Part of this time may be spent in transitional activities, such as lining up or waiting for the teacher. Girls are less likely than boys to engage in vigorous physical activity in school PE classes.
Exercising at Home
If your child is not involved in extracurricular sports and does not have physical education classes daily in school, encourage him to exercise daily at home. Some options for physical activity include walking, running, swimming and dancing. Set up an obstacle course for him to run, crawl and jump through, or engage him in physical hobbies, such as bike riding or in-line skating. Set a good example for him by increasing your own physical activity and exercising as a family.
Safety Warnings
Make sure that your child has the appropriate safety gear for her chosen physical activity. Helmets are necessary for bike riding, skating and skateboarding. Some sports require mouth guards to protect the mouth and teeth. When signing your child up for a team sport, be sure that she will be placed in a group with those her own age or size to reduce the chance for injury. Look for an organization that requires coaches to be CPR and first aid certified.
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