Most kids hate to exercise. They find it hard, they're bored, and they're usually injured during a workout. If you've ever asked your child about why he or she doesn't like exercise, you've probably gotten some version of, 'because it hurts.' That's a big lie. If you want to help your kids enjoy exercise, there are two things you can do right away.
The first is simple: get them into the right mindset. If your kids think that working out is lame or not fun, they won't exercise. You have to encourage your kids to think of exercise as something they look forward to, something they enjoy. Once you do that, you'll be well on your way to learning how to make exercising fun for kids.
One way you can do that is by making it fun. One way that works great is to hold a little competition in your household. Tell your kids that there's only one child left, and they have to exercise today. Whoever doesn't show up by the end of the day wins a prize. It's a good incentive for kids to exercise, and it makes them feel like they have some sort of control.
Another idea is to make a competition out of physical activity. If your kids are each given a target weight and height range, set weekly maximums for them. Make running and jumping a fun activity for them to pursue.
There's also a psychological benefit to physical activity. Kids who exercise build up their self-esteem. You'll notice this in children at all ages, but it's especially important with kids. They need to feel confident in order to do the things they want to do, and being afraid of your disapproval is one reason that many children lack these skills.
Kids also gain a lot of confidence from doing physical activities. They love to see results, and they'll work harder if they think they're going to get some result. This is the reason many younger kids love sports. When you have kids involved in a sport, you'll find that they'll perform better in sports that they love.
The best thing to do if you want to help your kids enjoy exercise is to start them young. This is the best age for teaching them how to appreciate exercise and healthy lifestyles. This is also the age when most kids will decide whether or not they'll pursue sports or not. If you've taken the time to introduce them to exercise early, it'll be easier to encourage them to stick with it when they get older. This means that you'll have to continue to help them with their exercises on a regular basis until they no longer have any desire to do them.
You'll find that there are plenty of ways to make exercising fun for kids. You don't have to buy them equipment or spend a lot of money to make the activity fun for them. Just make sure you keep the activity fun for them and make it something they really look forward to. If you do this, you'll soon find that your kids are happy with the activity, and it's something they'll continue to do on a daily basis, well into their teenage years.
You may be surprised to hear that one of the best ways you can get your child to exercise regularly is through word of mouth. Tell your friends and family about your child's new activity. Invite those who've had children the same age or younger than your own in the past to join in and offer their children advice and encouragement. Not only will this bring your children close to you, but it will also provide you with an invaluable source of advice about which activities your children are interested in. You'll also learn a lot more about the activities your children are enjoying themselves.
Once you've started allowing others to become involved, take this opportunity to teach your child a few pointers. Ask what he or she likes to do when they're outdoors. Make sure that you incorporate their suggestions. For example, if your child loves to run then start taking walks with him or her. Also, make it a point to tell your child where the running tracks are located. If you're living in a climate that has snow, then it's probably a good idea to let your child stay home on the days that there isn't any snow, otherwise they may end up getting too cold.
Finally, encourage your child to participate in various sports. Even if your child is too young to play a sport, you can still help them participate in as many of the fun sporting activities as possible. You can make it fun by letting them pick teams and participate in various activities, like soccer, basketball, tennis, and so on. This will not only make exercise fun for your kid, but it will also increase their physical well being.
