If you are concerned about your child gaining weight, the following ideas for children’s fitness may help. Simply taking your child outside, for example for some fun games in the yard, can greatly improve her physique and her metabolism.
First, be more mindful of the types of food you’re serving. Many children do not like fruits and vegetables, but encouraging these types of foods instead of unhealthy snacks can go a long way in improving your child’s health. Treats should be reserved from time to time, instead of being the usual meal on a busy day.
It is also important that you monitor how much time your children spend playing video games. While these are great for when adults want some quiet time, kids shouldn’t be sitting around playing video games all the time.
For those of you with older children, it’s also important to monitor and limit computer use. Homework should come first and then free time. However, not all of a child’s free time should be spent online.
Encouraging your children to spend more time outdoors is a great idea. You can encourage yourself to walk to a friend’s house, if he is nearby, or take a short walk in the woods. The increased amount of time spent outdoors has been linked to choosing to play sports at school. If your child decides to play sports, he or she will be getting the necessary amount of exercise.
If you live close enough, you can encourage your child to walk to school instead of driving or taking the bus. This can also save you time and money instead of going to the pumps to keep fuel in your vehicle.
Riding a bike is another great way to keep the whole family fit. Riding a bike to school or a friend’s house, or just for fun. This helps your child gain a sense of the road while he gets the exercise he needs, and even a little fresh air doesn’t hurt.
Swimming is one of the best exercises that exist to exercise the whole body. Everyone loves swimming and it’s a great way to get the whole family together for a workout.
If your child can’t ride a bike or walk to school or friends’ houses, it may be a good idea to simply encourage them to be outside as much as possible. Why not go out and play with them? Playing games with your children is a great way to foster a lifelong commitment to exercise. They’ll be prone to copying what you do, so if you watch too much TV, remember that they probably will too.
If your kids don’t seem as captivated by sports, chances are they just haven’t found the sport that piques their interests yet. Why not ask them what kind of activities they enjoy? Maybe a dance class for girls or an after school dodge ball program for boys and girls?
By instilling in them at an early age how important exercise is, your children will carry exercise throughout their lives. Consider your child’s health and think more about their fitness level.