Exercise Tips for Kids - What Can Parents Do

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

17 Sep 2006 03:30 PM

What can you as a parent do to increase the activity levels of your kids? There's plenty. Later this week I'll be talking about the National Walk Our Kids to School Day that's coming up on October 4, but if you are already walking your kids to school - there are other ways to increase their activity level and have fun too.

For example, invest in a pair of roller blades or get a bike of your own and encourage your kids to ride their bikes to and from school with you along for the ride - literally. One of the great things about this is it increases their activity level and whether the ride is five minutes or fifteen minutes, you are increasing their effort levels along with their activity.

If riding a bike is not an option, play games along the way to school. Leave a few minutes early to allow all of you some comfortable time to play. Try games like Follow the Leader where you lead them on a weaving path, hopping on one foot as well as balancing along little walls and more. The other day, I saw a kid skipping rope all the way to school. While that might be a bit extreme - there's something to be said for how much effort that kiddo was putting out on their way in.

Make Playtime Activity Time

Encourage their activity levels including setting up obstacle courses at home or taking them to a playground or play park and using the equipment there. We played a game once where the kids ran around from activity center to activity center, switching out every minute, whether they were climbing the jungle gym, swinging across the monkey bars, sliding down the slide or swinging on the swings.

Be creative - your kids can get lots of activity without having to 'go to the gym' or 'working out' with specific exercises. My daughter likes to exercise with me and I like to play with her. There's a lot of exercise to be had - get out there and find it.

What kinds of physical activities do your kids engage in?

Related Articles:

Working Out With Your Kids

A is for Activity

Children & Dieting

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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