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If you’re a parent of younger children you know how much time they spend either on the couch or sitting in a chair. With iPods, tv, computers and the internet there is a lot that takes them into their head and not into the woods.
Getting kids active helps prevent problems like obesity. See: How you Can Help Fight Childhood Obesity?
Here are 3 ways to get your kids off the couch and moving:
1. Put up sports equipment.
Whether it’s a basketball standard, volleyball net, trampoline, ping pong table or a skate ramp encourage kids to be more active by giving them things to do. When I was a kid we always had a badminton net and rackets set up ready for a game.
2. Start a water fight.
Water fights in the summer mean kids will run and run without noticing all of the exercise they’re getting. In the Winter if you have snow, set up a snowball fight. Plan it or make it a regular event by deeming a certain time and day of the week for a neighborhood water fight. I had friends who had an ongoing water fight all summer – so I was always on the lookout when I visited. It was fun and kept us running.
3. Sign them up for lessons.
Whether it’s karate, swimming lessons, basketball, tennis or golf lessons – formal lessons are a good way to help your kids establish good habits of exercise. What I’ve noticed is that kids like things they are good at and what better way to help them get good at something than signing them up for lessons?
What ways have you gotten your kids off the couch? Please comment.
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