3 Ways to Get Your Children Working Out and Loving It
Kids are a blessing. If you have them, you love them and want the best for them in every aspect of life. While they are loveable, precious, and a million other wonderful adjectives, they can also be pretty stubborn. When you are trying to teach them good habits, they can be surprisingly resistant. When it comes to exercise, your kids need to know it is important. But, how do you get a resistant kid to get up and get moving? If you need a little push for your children, check out these 3 ways to motivate kids to love working out.
Do It With Them
Your kids won’t want to be around you for any amount of time for very long. Once they get a little older, friends tend to take precedence. Take advantage of this time with them by spending quality time with them. One such way to do that? Workout with them! You’ll essentially be killing 2 birds with one stone. Take them for a walk, play a game with them, join a class with them...whatever it takes. Not only will they enjoy doing things all together as a family, but they will also be subject to the “monkey see, monkey do” way of life. The better example you set, the more likely they are to do the same.
Appeal to Their Interests
Sometimes, you just have to take their approach. Do they like video games? Buy the ones that require movement, like the Wii. Do they enjoy sports? Sign them up for little league. Is swimming their thing? Find a local pool or swim team. Whatever they enjoy, find an activity that they can participate in to keep them active and moving. This will get them moving now and may also help them stay involved and active as the teenage years hit.
Motivation
This is often the hardest part for anyone to get up and get moving. Think about how hard it is for you to get up and get moving. It might be just as hard for your kids! Try finding them some motivation, or even some rewards. They worked out 5 out of the last 7 days? Maybe they deserve that new pair of jeans they have been wanting. They stuck with the new class? Perhaps a trip to the zoo is in order. While this may be a lot of work in the beginning, and may even feel a bit like bribery, it can eventually become part of life. Once your kids begin to enjoy their routine, you can slack off on the rewards and enjoy the lifestyle that you have created.
Teaching your kids to love to workout is not impossible. It can be difficult in the beginning, but with enough perseverance and creativity, even the most difficult children can be taught to find an activity they love. Get to know your kids, appeal to their likes, and get them moving for a healthy life.
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Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Nelson Braillard