You might enjoy a kick around with the kids in the park on a weekend, but how often do you actually exercise with them? We’ve put together some tips to get you into a healthier, happier routine that’s good for both you and your little ones!
Every parent knows just how much energy kids can hold – they’re fizzing bundles ready to burst at any moment! But in an age when we’re all more glued to our phone,tablet or TV screens, it can be much more difficult to burn off that energy.
Sure, the winter is never an appealing time to head out and play, with the rain, wind and cold often keeping us planted firmly on the sofa. But it’s important not to forget how important it is to get those limbs moving every day!
You might be surprised by just how much fun it is to get up and out there, keeping both you and the kids fit and healthy. Here’s how to make it happen…
- Get them properly kitted out
If you’re keen to make a habit of exercise, you should make sure they’ve got the proper attire. Running trainers for jogging, court shoes for court sports and hiking boots for long walks will make a lot of difference – a lack of proper support can easily lead to shin splints or ankle problems! Plus, if they’re wearing the same kind of shoes as you, they’ll feel like proper sporting stars and feel more motivated to continue! Check out our selection of boy’s sport shoes and girl’s sport shoes.
Of course, shoes aren’t the only consideration when kitting them out with activewear. If you’re heading out for a walk, jog or bike ride, be sure they are wearing plenty of reflective clothing – you can add reflective bag tags, armbands and badges to ordinary sportswear to make sure they can be easily seen.
- Don’t push them too hard
Maybe you’re serious about your sport, or maybe you’re not. What’s important to remember is that kids play, run and cycle for fun, so make sure it stays that way. For starters, let them go at their own pace. Of course, this will vary tremendously depending on their age – if that means stopping so they can check out bugs, ponds, shop windows, and so on, then let them! If you start to pile on the pressure to perform, it’ll quickly end up feeling like a chore and they’ll lose interest. Try to keep it feeling unstructured and informal, even if you’re secretly getting them to improve each time you go out!
- Keep track
Making charts that use stickers, stamps or stars is a great way to keep kids interested and spur them on. You might track times, distances or scores and try to beat them next time!
It’s also good idea to keep your own record of how they felt about the session – were they tired at the end? Did they enjoy it? Finding out why they liked the sport can help you identify others that they might like to try. For example, if they like tennis, you could also try squash or badminton – both ideal for rainy days!
- Health above fitness
Always remember to take plenty of water with you when exercising – keeping hydrated is especially important when you’re sweating! It’s also extremely important to stop running or playing sports if they start to experience any pain – while adults can cope with minor muscle pain, kids’ bones and muscles are still growing and susceptible to much greater damage. Take some time out to ensure full recovery before starting out again.
Take a look at our top picks of the best sports shoes for boys and girls below!
What’s your little one’s favourite way to get active? Let us know in the comments below!
