Moving Towards Functional Fitness: Getting Your Kids Up and Off the Computer
When you
were growing up your parents probably had to pry you away from the TV to get
you outside into the fresh air. These days it is the computer and gaming
consoles that are the issue. It is so easy for kids to spend hours playing
games and chatting with friends online that exercise is the last thing on their
minds.
So how do
you get your kids away from the computer and outside? Well one way is to offer
them something exciting and fun to do. This could be in the form of a family
scavenger hunt or going down to the local swimming pool.
Quite often
kids love to choose and not be told what to do. So why not give them a list of
exercise related options or let them totally choose what they would like to do.
Even going for a bike ride together to a local park for a picnic is good
exercise. It gets everyone outside plus gives you some much needed family time
together. (For more ideas on easing your family towards fitness, check out our free report on low impact exercises that are suitable for all ages and levels of fitness!)
Summer is
great for all kinds of outdoor activities and older kids may enjoy learning a
new hobby or skill. You could encourage them to learn how to make a kids picnic
table or even build a new shelf for their bedroom. If you kids like to read why
not let them set up their own private area in the garden? They could paint an
old chair and use some blankets for a screen. One great privacy idea is to
plant a screen of sunflowers or morning glory, any flower that grows quickly
works well. This way they have their own private place to retreat to away from
that computer!
If you have
a dog then designate one child per day as the official dog walker, or enjoy a
family dog walk together. Giving your children responsibility is a good way to
get them thinking about different things instead of which friend to chat to
next.
Planning in
advance is another way to get your children outside. You could sit down on a
Sunday afternoon and plan activities for the week. This could also include
chores and tasks that need to be done. For example cleaning out old toys or
helping sort items out for a garage sale. Why not let them sell their old toys
and buy new clothes with the money?
While the
computer can be a great learning tool and resource it can also be time
consuming and addictive. It is important for you as a parent to balance your
children’s online time with physical activity. So start planning some fun
activities and get everyone outside in the fresh air this summer.
There are some predictable stumbling blocks to family fitness. Check out our Fitness Mistakes course to learn how to avoid them!
