Fun ways to get your children active
Childhood obesity is on the rise.
It seems that every time we open the newspapers there’s another report on children getting larger – and the problem is getting worse rather than better. The reasons? Eating too much of the wrong food and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle - at the very time in their lives when they should be at their most active.
Childrens hobbies are too inactive.
Many of today’s pastimes such as watching TV or playing on the computer mean a lot of children do not get the exercise they need.
The Government now recommends that young children should have at least 60 minutes of activity every day to help strengthen bones and muscles as well as preventing weight gain.
Yet for many busy parents with increasingly stressful lifestyles, the prospect of getting their kids moving for an hour a day can be daunting.
Getting active does not need to be expensive or difficult.
But it needn’t be difficult or expensive. Children love activity and with a few simple guidelines, you can also learn to love how to make fitness fun for all the family.
Break It Down
An hour is a long time for children, as well as for you. The best way is to break it down to just 10-15 minute slots of activity at a time. It is just enough time to fit in short bursts of running, games or dancing. Making it fun is half the battle.
Start Early
It’s never too early to introduce you baby to the idea of exercise. They enjoy stimulation from a very young age. Introducing fun activities now will help get them into good habits for life.
Do something different
Everyone knows the saying 'variety is the spice of life'. The same principle applies to children.We all worry about ensuring our children exercise enough. To ensure that they do it is vital to give them new, fun and exciting games so they don’t lose interest,
To give you as parents some inspiration for fresh ideas I would suggest that you try swimming, cycling, and visits to the park. All places where you can easily engage with your children and play with them whilst exercising. Or try joining a class, like mine, where children enjoy games, exercises, dance and races – and parents can join in too. It’s a great opportunity to play alongside your children, see how they develop their skills and discover what they are really capable of – which is often so much more than they are given credit for.
Be A Good Role Model
It is vital parents set an example and play with their little ones. Mums and Dads have to be seen to be active if youngsters are going to do the same.
The child is the teacher
Why not get the older siblings to get involved - you will be suprised how much they will enjoy this opportunity . If you make them your assistant and encourage them to help, they become role models. If you’re struggling for ideas, encouraging older children to use their creativity and make suggestions really works.
Fun and free
Young children don’t need flashy, expensive equipment. With a little imagination you can turn the garden into a mini Olympic stadium. Why not try the Toddler Olympics?
1: Races. Hold a race in garden or local park. Get some friends involved and have a proper finishing line.
2: Hurdles: You can use cushions on the floor in the living room, or take the game outside and use brooms, shovels or skipping ropes.
3: Shotput: Try throwing soft toys into the washing basket – moving it further and further away.
4: Rowing: Sit facing each other, hold hands and row, row, row the boat forward and backward together.
5: Football – the old favourite for boys and girls
6: Swimming – children love water and it’s a great idea to get them used to it at an early age.
7: Gymnastics: Help very young children with rolly pollies, teach older toddlers about cartwheels and balancing – try a line of bricks for beamwork.
8: Cycling: Have a tricycle race around the garden.
Set your children up for a lifetime of good health.
Behind the fun is a serious message. Being active now will help set children up for a lifetime of good health helping to counter the risk of serious conditions later in life. And it’s fun. So go on – switch off the computer and play outside for 10 minutes. Job done!
About the author
Amanda Frolich has run children’s activity classes in the South-east for 20 years and is creating a franchise scheme in January 2011 to take the Amanda’s Action Club concept around the country.
She is a regular point of contact for national TV and media and is a firm favourite with celebrities – including David Beckham, Katie Price, BBC ‘Dragon’ Peter Jones, Matthew Pinsent and Take That’s Mark Owen - who visit her classes and turn to her for party entertainment.
She has also advised the Government’s SureStart scheme and the Change4Life initiative and regularly hosts family activity days in the capital.
For more information, visit www.amandasactionclub.co.uk or email info@amandasactionclub.co.uk
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