Encourage Your Child to Exercise

When I was a kid, we used to play outside every day in our cul-de-sac, going to the pool, playing hide-and-go-seek and organizing group sports. These days, kids are more comfortable in front of the television, and sometimes their only exercise comes with moving their hands lightening-quick over video game controllers.

Exercise, however, is important for all children, and in order to ensure that your child is healthy, you should encourage exercise at every available time. This doesn't apply to parents whose children are already active, but if your child doesn't seem interested, here are ways to encourage your child to exercise.

Encourage Your Child to Exercise: Chores

Even though sweeping the porch and raking the lawn are activities that parents dread, they can make exciting and entertaining exercise for kids. Your children want to help around the house because it makes them feel grown-up. On the weekends, instead of approaching chores yourself, let your kids help out, and make a game of it. For example, say, "I bet you can't rake the lawn in one hour." Kids love a challenge.

Encourage Your Child to Exercise: Expose Them to Activities

Your child will never know if he or she enjoys an activity unless they try it. Play basketball in the driveway or throw a baseball back and forth. If your child doesn't like those activities, try something else. You could even expose them to more specialized physical activities, such as horseback riding or sledding. Find something that your child enjoys and encourage him or her to pursue that activity.

Encourage Your Child to Exercise: Set an Example

If your after-work activities include watching Desperate Housewives and eating McDonald's, then your children are going to copy those habits. In order to encourage healthy living in your children, you must set that example yourself. Walk instead of drive, cook healthy meals, work outside on the weekends and involve yourself in a sport. Setting an example is the first step in a long process.

Encourage Your Child to Exercise: Do Things Together

If you like to exercise to aerobic video tapes, purchase an exercise tape for children and work out with them. Or, if you like to go on bike rides in the evening, teach your child to ride his or her own bike. Not only will this encourage your child to exercise, but it also gives you and your child a fun bonding activity that you can enjoy for years to come.

Encourage Your Child to Exercise: Never Belittle

Some kids are athletic, while others aren't; that's a fact of life. You can't force your child to be good at sports or to run faster than anyone else, so you'll need to identify your child's strengths and find ways for them to get a fair amount of exercise. Your child doesn't have to be great at basketball or be a fast swimmer; he or she should just have the opportunity to get out and exercise.