How to Teach Kids the Importance of Staying Fit
Anyone who has spent some time with kids, or has little ones of their own, knows that children can be very active and involved in play at a young age. As they grow older, they may have too many other responsibilities at school, lose interest, or worry that they aren’t as good at sports as their peers. As a partner of the Together Counts™ program, Bumble Bee Foods has tips on how to encourage staying fit at a young age, so that being active becomes part of their daily routine.
Set an Example
One of the best ways to teach anyone is by setting an example. This doesn’t mean you have to be over the top when it comes to following a strict health and exercise routine, but you should try to live in such a way where your children are positively influenced by your habits.
Let Them Choose
There is nothing worse than parents pushing their children to participate in sports or activities that they do not enjoy. Allow your child to try out a variety of sports and exercises, and don’t just introduce them to the ones that you would prefer them to practice. This allows your child to make up their own mind while also showing them the importance of sticking with their choices.
Establish a Role Model
To encourage fitness as an ongoing lifestyle that even adults practice, help them find an athlete as a role model. They may be more willing to stay active if they know that their hero is doing so every day. If your child shows interest in a specific sport, choose someone with a good moral compass and healthy habits to inspire him/her.
Encourage Outdoor Play
With the latest technology it can be quite difficult to convince children that they can create the same games outside just by using their imagination. This is where you might want to set some rules such as no indoor games during the daytime. Some parents only allow their children to play with electronic devices such as game consoles or tablets during the weekends.
Introduce Competition
Introducing competition in regards to exercise might not be the most subtle way to teach children about staying fit, but it might just help them discover their inner warrior. Alongside these competitions you should try to constantly remind them that it’s not always about winning, but that participating already makes them a winner.
What do you do to encourage the children in your life to stay fit?
Here are some additional resources from Together Counts to help keep your children healthy and active:
- Having the Talk: Nutrition & Kids
- Moving to Music: Making Exercise Fun!
- Introducing Kids To A Variety Of Foods Helps Later In Life
This post was originally published on the BeeWell for Life blog. BeeWell for Life is a health and wellness community created by Bumble Bee Foods to promote healthy lifestyles and raise donations to fight diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer.