In America, children are becoming more inactive as sedentary activities -- such as watching television, playing video games and surfing the Internet -- are taking up more and more of children's lives. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, only half of all kids ages 12 to 21 make exercise a regular part of their lives. Active children are more likely to become active adults, as they form good habits early in life.
Exercise Together
Encourage your inactive children to get off the couch by exercising with them. Doing physical activities together as a family helps everyone get into better shape and has the additional benefit of encouraging family members to grow closer as well. Shared family activities include bike riding, hiking, walking, playing tag or playing hide-and-seek. Be a good role model and your children will want to copy your behaviors. A good time to do something together is after everyone eats dinner but before the family settles into sedentary nighttime activities.
Limit Sedentary Activites
Parents who limit the time their children spend doing sedentary activities such as watching television, playing video games or surfing the Internet encourage children to find other alternatives to entertain themselves. No more than one or two hours of total screen viewing per day is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Make active options available, such as offering to pay for sports lessons, encouraging active children to come over to your house to play and modeling an active lifestyle yourself.
Explore New Activities
Sometimes sedentary children do not think exercise is fun. Explore different activities with your child by reviewing after-school options, trying new sports together and discussing exercise in a positive, enthusiastic manner. Children pick up on these positive cues and become more motivated to become physically active. Sometimes introducing your child to a new physical activity sparks an interest that lasts a lifetime.
Discuss the Benefits
Introduce the benefits of exercise to your children in subtle ways at opportune moments. If your child is complaining he is not popular with the opposite sex, for example, explain that exercise strengthens and tones muscles, making him more attractive. If he is not confident, you can talk about a time you took up a sport and how being more active increased your personal level of confidence in many areas of life. If your child is tired, suggest that taking a walk is a good way to bolster energy and increase focus.
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