Why You Need to Get Active for Your Kids

Ferrying your kids between team practices and sports events might be helping them develop a love of fitness that will see them through life. But, if you’re not practicing what you preach, they could still inherit your lazy ways.

Encouraging your kids to get active is all well and good, but if you’re a coach potato, your bad habits might still rub off on them. Recent research has highlighted the importance of parental activity, and you might be surprised to hear that the activity levels of both parents were important for encouraging good fitness habits in children.

Research published in the J Sports Sci Med in September 2014 studied the link between parental activity and childhood weight and activity levels (you can read the full research study here). Researchers found that children with inactive parents were more likely to be overweight. The study also found that children’s BMI percentiles were lower if both parents were physically active, compared to children who had just one active parent. That said, even having just one active parent had a positive effect on the amount of time children spent participating in organized sports.

The researchers also identified a strong association between parental physical activity and the amount of time children spent participating in organized sports each week.

Making a Change

If you find yourself slotting into the inactive parent group, it might be time to make a few positive changes to your daily routine. You’ll be pleased to hear it doesn’t take much effort to switch to a healthier lifestyle. As well as helping your child to develop a love of health and fitness, you’ll also improve your own health by making the few small changes listed below:

1. Ditch the car - don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you’re destined for a life on public transport, it just means you need to make better choices about when to use your car. Lots of people are guilty of using cars for short journeys that could easily be made on foot. As a general rule, you should avoid using the car for journeys of less than one kilometer. Try limiting your car usage and increasing the number of steps you walk each day. The average person should be walking at least 10,000 steps each day, so get a pedometer to see how close you come to that target.

2. Get some wheels - cycling is a great way to get fit, and the perfect way to discover the world outside your door. For journeys that are a little too long to make on foot, cycling is a perfect option for anyone wanting to improve their fitness levels. Invite your family to join you on a cycle ride through the countryside, or challenge them to a day at a BMX track. Cycling holidays are a great way to enjoy quality time as a family whilst seeing the great outdoors and staying active.

3. Schedule in some family time - spending time as a family doesn’t have to mean a trip to the movies or staying in and ordering a pizza, there are plenty of ways you can get active as a family. See if your loved ones fancy joining you for an adventure, and head out for a walk or hike in the countryside. Without the distraction of a screen, you’ll get to enjoy some quality family time whilst staying getting your heart pumping.

4. Find an exercise you love - they key to staying active is to find an activity you love. Whether it’s evening dance classes, stress-relieving yoga, an early morning swim, or a spin class with your friends, find something you love and it won’t feel like a chore. Make it a regular part of your week and you’ll soon be reaping the benefits of a more active lifestyle.

5. Join a team - team sports aren’t just for children, there are plenty of sports teams you can join as an adult. Think back to your favorite sport at school, and then search your local area for a team you can join. Soccer, basketball, netball and hockey are just some examples of teams you can join as a hobby.

6. Use your time wisely – while your child is at practice, walk laps around the field. Instead of just sitting on the side chatting, you can be getting in a good 45 minute brisk walk and even still chat with the other parents that will join you too!