HUNTSVILLE LIVING | DECEMBER 2024 | 5
HUNTSVILLE
LIVING
STAFF
PUBLISHER Lange Svehlak lsvehlak @ athensreview . com
GENERAL MANAGER Traci Gallin traci @ itemonline . com
EDITOR Brenda Poe bpoe @ itemonline . com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Ashley Horton ahorton @ itemonline . com
Tips to get children excited about exercise
Human beings need to engage in physical activity to stay healthy . But too many children are not getting the exercise they need . Only 50 percent of boys and less than 34 percent of girls between the ages of 12 and 15 are adequately fit , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Children who are not physically fit are at greater risk for chronic diseases . In addition , children who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of retaining that extra weight into adulthood .
Getting children to exercise regularly can be an uphill battle with so many distractions , such as electronic devices , vying for their attention . But parents can explore the following ways to get children more excited about physical activity .
— Choose interactive toys . Select toys for kids that require movement . These can include sporting activities , scooters , bicycles , and even video games that involve physical activity . Kids will be moving while they play , which is a first step .
— Set an example . Children may be more likely to embrace physical activity if they see their parents exercising regularly . Adults can share their passions for activities that encourage movement , whether it is hiking , heading to the gym , swimming , or rock scrambling .
— Make it a contest . People can be very competitive , especially young children . If kids know there is a prize or reward attached to doing something , they may have more motivation to engage with it . Offer a prize to the person who can log the most minutes of physical activity each week .
— Make things social . The more people involved in an activity , the greater the chance kids will want to be involved . Therefore , invite their friends , cousins , classmates , and other relatives to participate .
— Look for new ways to exercise . Plan vacations and day trips around an activity . Perhaps the family can learn how to surf or snorkel on a trip ; otherwise , a trip to the zoo or a museum can involve a lot of walking .
— Find reasons to walk . Kids and parents can walk to or from school each day to get exercise . Parking further away from stores ensures some extra steps as well . Take the stairs in malls instead of elevators or escalators .
— Encourage participation in team sports . Afterschool athletics often involve multiple days of practices and games or meets , which can be all the exercise a kid needs to be healthy . Athletics also present a fun way to exercise with friends .
Kids need physical activity to stay healthy , and there are various ways to make them more inclined to be active .
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HUNTSVILLE LIVING | DECEMBER 2024 | 5