A common New Year’s resolution for many of us is to start an exercise program. For those of us with children, it can be even more difficult to find the time to fit it into our busy schedules. Whatever the reason for the New Year’s Resolution – losing weight; feeling better about ourselves; our health professional told us to or else – especially if we have kids, there’s another reason. With child obesity on the rise at alarming rate, many health professionals and early child educators say it’s never too early to establish the habit of exercising. When you exercise with your children, not only are you doing yourself some good, but you are also setting a good example and establishing the basis of incorporating physical activity into a healthy lifestyle.
Today when there are so many sedentary temptations like the television and an endless variety of computer games, it’s good for parents to encourage an activity like exercise that can combat possible health problems like weight gain, heart disease and diabetes that might occur later on in their lives. And it’s never too early to begin introducing them to good habits that can last a lifetime.
Make exercise a natural and integral part of your daily routine. You can actually start when they are babies by taking them out for your run while they’re in their stroller. As your child gets older, he or she can “help” you while you pull weeds in the garden, shovel the pathway, fold laundry or do the vacuuming. Go for daily walks or jogs as a family or alternate between “mom” and “dad” physical activity outings. Plan regular outdoor activities like hiking, camping or swimming.
As toddlers and children a little older, movement comes naturally to them. Make sure that birthday and holiday gifts include an even mix of “sit down” toys such as board games, dolls, dollhouses, train tables or racing car sets and presents that encourage movement, like balls, jump ropes, rollerblades, ice skates and dancing games.
Expose them to as many group or team oriented physical activities and sports as time and budget allows. Many community centers offer quality, low-cost dance and sports programs for young children, tweens and teens. Even when they’re babies, parents can join mom/dad-and-me programs that involve swimming, other kinds of water sports or some type of dancing.
Incorporate sports and physical activities into your family’s method of rewards. When celebrating a birthday, milestone or other family occasion, plan a special trip to a paintball park, a water park or even the zoo, since there will be a lot of walking around to see all of the animals. A trip to a rock climbing wall or a day at the amusement park can be a reward for good behavior or an incentive for doing chores, keeping their room clean or getting good grades.
Making exercise a fun activity that is a part, not separate from, your lifestyle will go a long way to encouraging habits that will keep them healthy and active for all their lives.
Share this Post[?]
With mom’s permission, I’m featuring my friend Lisa’s children in last year’s Halloween costumes. Her daughter Louisa wanted to go as Nancy Drew. It was incredibly simple to make. The entire costume was comprised from a coat from her closet, a magnifying glass she had and her mother’s 
