How to Encourage Your Teen Be Fit

Encourage your teen to get at least one hour of physical activity a day and eat regular, nutritious meals. If your child is overweight, talk to her doctor about a safe plan for bringing her weight under control. If your teen is very thin and sensitive about it, talk to his doctor about recommending snacks that are high in healthy protein and fats such as hard-boiled eggs and nuts.

Playing sports are a great way for your teen to maintain regular physical activity. Talk to your child about how she can get involved in a sport. Is there an activity she has enjoyed in the past such as softball or soccer? See what she enjoyed about each and if she might want to try something new. Suggest your child talk to her PE teacher about her strengths and what sport may be best for her.

Let your teen's choice of sport be her own. Her favorite sport may be different than the one you played in school or like to watch. Look into community leagues. Recreational teams are less competitive and a good way to have fun with friends, get exercise and build skills.

Turn household chores into workouts and you'll give your child a sense of responsibility while keeping him moving. Outdoor chores will change depending on the season. Whether it's shoveling snow, planting trees, pulling weeds, or raking leaves, your teen will burn calories and strengthen his muscles. Playing fetch with the dog or taking the dog for a walk is fun. Indoor jobs like sweeping, mopping, dusting and vacuuming will keep your child moving. Ask him to help with big jobs such as washing window or even painting a room.

Tip: suggest your teen make an upbeat playlist on his iPod just for chore time.

Do family activities such as hiking or biking. Check with your community center or library for local trail maps. Don't forget to pack batter bottles and healthy snacks. Take along binoculars and guide books. Make up a scavenger hunt prior to the hike and look for the items.

If your child enjoys video games, she doesn't have to sit still while playing. Many systems such as the Wii Fit require players to get up and move. If you have a system at home, join your teen when she plays. You can warm up together with stretches such as lunges and toe touches. If your teen discovers a virtual activity she loves such as Ping-Pong or bowling, suggest she try it in real life as well. Be sure to remind your child that virtual workouts aren't a substitute for the real thing.

If you have free weights in your home, show your teen the proper way of using them. A teen can left weights safely and do exercises like pull-ups and push-ups to get stronger. Remind your teen to balance physical activity with good nutrition and keep healthy snacks available to him.