Getting The Ball Rolling: Why You Should Encourage Your Kids To Exercise

Getting The Ball Rolling: Why You Should Encourage Your Kids To Exercise

There’s a huge emphasis at the moment on the amount of exercise that adults get. We sit behind computers for most of the working day and often our only form of workout is strolling to the coffee machine for tea or coffee breaks.

But your kids need exercise too. Many people assume that children are constantly active, bundles of energy. But often they can be found favoring online games and games consoles. Your kids need exercise in order to grow up healthy and strong. So how do you go about doing this? Here are a few effective tips and tricks.

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Team Sports
Team sports are a great way to pique your children’s interest in sport. Why? Well, a kid isn’t going to be interested in working out on the machines in a gym. Their attention span can often be short and what fun is a cross trainer that they’re too small for? Team sports make exercise a social activity. Your kids will get to make friends, hang out, socialize and exercise at the same time. Team sports are also great for helping your kids interact fairly with their peers. This is important as they grow up. They’ll have to communicate well to come up with good team strategies. They will also have to learn to share. Some will have to accept they might not be best in one position and be flexible in taking on another role in a team. Great team sports include football, netball, basketball, hockey, rounders, baseball and rugby.

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Alternative Sports
Alternative sports will grab your kids’ attention simply through how different they are from any other activity on offer. This could range from horse riding to golf. These will keep your little one healthy and strong. They will see their stamina improve; their weight become balanced, and they will fall asleep more quickly, easily and comfortably when put to bed. It will also be a great topic of conversation for them when they head to school. What kid wouldn’t be proud of being able to ride a horse or pot a hole in one? Individual sports often also award children with trophies when they compete. A shelf of Golf trophies in your kids room will show them that they can achieve great things if they set their minds to it. This is a great reward which your child will be proud of. They’ll want to aim higher and achieve more.

 

Martial Arts
Martial arts can teach your children so much more than basic moves. They will give them essential self defense skills as well as endowing them with a sense of respect for others. This will benefit them throughout their lives. All while giving them a good bout of exercise. They will also feel a great sense of pride and achievement as they rise through the ranks of different belts.

 

Whatever sport or form of exercise your child partakes in, make sure that it is something that they enjoy. Reward them for their achievements. Go and watch their exams, competitions, games, and matches. This will strengthen your bond with your child, and they will truly appreciate it later down the line.