Kids and Physical Activity
By the time they reach high school, 63 percent of children are no longer physically active. (source: American Council on Exercise)
Active kids are healthy kids! Physically active children are less likely to have chronic health problems and to be overweight or obese. Plus, active kids have more self-confidence and feel better about themselves than kids who are mostly sedentary.
Parents and teachers can help promote physical activity in young people by setting a strong example and acting as role models. It’s not enough to just tell your kids to get up and get moving – you have to do it with them!
Tips for encouraging the young people in your life to be more active:
- Make it fun – focus on the positive aspects of exercise
- Do it together – you can model a good behavior and spend quality time together
- Don’t make it a competition – if a child experiences discipline, embarrassment or the dread of “losing,” he or she will be less interested in participating again
- Keep it simple – just taking a family walk or spending a day at the zoo can count as physical activity
- Do it all year round – find activities that are suited to the weather like biking or swimming in summer and dancing to music indoors or visiting a City Recreation Center in colder temperatures
- Be careful of injury – remember that children are always growing and their muscles may be tight or susceptible to injury; don’t overdo it and remember to stretch first
