We know that exercise is essential for a healthier life, especially for the little ones. But do we try hard enough for our children to practice regular physical activity? Sometimes it seems more complicated than it is, so we give you some tips to get your kids fit.
What we have to do is facilitate sports, because since they are young they adapt to new experiences and what for them are games (and we have to make it look like this).
The opportunities and means that we give our children to be active do not need large financial outlays, they just want to have a good time through healthy habits and if it is with them, as a family, better than better. Or is it not good for us to get fit?
Therefore, we provide these opportunities depends on our interest, although both the rest of the family, such as caregivers or the school environment should be aware of the importance that this issue has for us, and thus also contribute to facilitate the Physical activity practice in other complementary ways.
We start with the necessary motivation, since we will hardly obtain benefits or any positive result of an unmotivated child in the face of physical activity. The child has to feel like exercising, playing an active game or a sport.
In addition, we must convey a clear message that we obviously have to believe ourselves before: physical activity and a healthy diet as part of our lifestyle are very valuable and contribute to our living a full life. However small they may be, when they begin to acquire language they are ready to talk to them about the subject, at their level.
The gifts with which we surprise our children at each stage may be aimed at the exercise, to practice active games or sports (for example, this past Christmas we gave you some ideas of toys to move around. With some skates, a ball, a ball, a bicycle, a rope ... we are encouraging active play. If the child has at your disposal all these toys and not only, for example, video games and dolls, it will be easier for you to move, to be active, to leave the sofa to put the body to work while having fun.
When we help them distribute their time (always with a certain laxity, they will have time for rigid schedules as adults), do not forget to include in the schedule time for physical activity, along with other important moments (meals, homework, where appropriate, school , reading… ). These active games marry very well with rest time, leisure time.
In line with what we have just said, we must pay attention and not turn leisure moments, which have to be relaxed and fun for the child, in compulsory extracurriculars. That is, if the child extracurricular activity (judo, soccer, swimming, skating ...) It seems like a fun game and he wants it, great. But let's not pretend that our son benefits from the advantages of sport with an extracurricular student for whom he is not prepared or who feels compelled to go. Extracurricular activities must be taken in their proper measure, because although it is true that when the number of children who practice them decreases, the cases of overweight increase in the child population, in excess or poorly chosen they can cause stress, demotivation ... and ultimately the opposite effect to what would be desirable.
In our leisure time, let's take the children to safe places to run, jump, play with the ball ... The park, the outskirts, the field are some of the places where active games are possible. In summer, with the holidays, take the opportunity to exercise as a family.
Be interested in the conditions of use of sports centers, their schedules, prices... or school facilities outside the schedule of organized activities, in case it is possible to use them. Claim, together with the neighbors of your locality, assumable prices or the free use of these facilities.
You have to inform the city council of the possibilities that exist near our home to practice physical, recreational and sports activities, and share this information with children in case there is any in which you have special interest. Provide, in that case, regular registration and assistance.
Small gestures also help the kids to be healthier: walk to school, park or library, make the purchase ... Go up the stairs instead of taking the elevator.
Sometimes it is difficult to get more hours to take from our daily agenda and bring children to do their sports. But have you thought if you dedicate yourself to the exercise yourself? It may be useful to think that the time in which we run, swim or go to the gym is a very valuable time to share with children and exercise or games can be done together. At other times it is more complicated, for example if we need to swim yes or yes and our child is small; but the case is to think that our exercise is not at odds with that of children. Since they are babies we can exercise together and when the chances of being accompanied (or we accompany them) increase. If in your case it turns out that you don't spend any time exercising, it's something that needs to be changed. Our children will hardly understand the importance of physical activity if they do not see our example (in addition, our body will also appreciate it, sedentary lifestyle is not good for anyone).
Dress the children with comfortable clothes that allow them to play freely, if you are afraid of stains (they are part of learning, as the announcement says) and have a pair or two of sneakers. It is important that children feel comfortable (while being safe) when they play an active sport or game. If the child likes to practice a sport that needs equipment, find out about the facilities to buy the necessary suit or material and if there are difficulties to achieve everything with the family budget, ask family or friends that these are the gifts when the birthday arrives , Christmas…
Definitely, We can do many things to facilitate our children physical and sports practice and thus get them healthier. Physical development advances by leaps and bounds at such tender ages, but remember that mental development follows the same advances and exercise also helps them to be "healthy inside", to be happier.
Photos | Thinkstock
In Babies and more | Ten benefits of children's physical activity, Healthy sport for healthy children, Tips for sports children
