Keeping fit and healthy from a young age is always a good thing, helping to develop a quick and efficient metabolism, functional and strong muscles and also keeping happy. Exercise has many benefits for children as they grow and can be done easily throughout childhood, whether playing sport or simply a game of tag.

With the level of childhood obesity at an all time high, big problems are occurring such as the surge in childhood type II diabetes and high-blood pressure. Performing regular exercise along with a healthy balanced diet can reduce obesity rates along with its variety of complications! Follow some of the below tips to help keep your children active.

Try different sports
The competitive and team aspects of sport are great for children as they grow up, helping them learn to work with others and improve their own skills and fitness. And remember, there are more sports than just football and hockey. Introduce them to different sports – which they may prefer to mainstream activities – such as water sports or newer sports like ultimate Frisbee, which you can practice at home as well as within a team.

Exercise as a reward
Rather than turning the kids outside against their will when they are getting a little hyperactive, try using exercise as a reward. For example, add a 20-minute active break when doing homework or chores, like 50 rugby passes or football kicks, or a round of golf on the Nintendo Wii. Finding an exercise they enjoy is vital for this.

Get involved
Children often enjoy it when adults get involved (to a certain extent – don’t get too competitive!), as they can often be taught new skills and are encouraged to participate in activities they may not otherwise choose to. Perhaps try an activity that you can learn together or teach them, but make sure you start with the basics to avoid frustration and a negative impact on exercise.

Educate
Along with teaching your children to play different sports or activities, try to teach them about the benefits of regular activity or introduce them to someone who can, such as a sports coach or personal trainer. If kids know why they should exercise, they may be more inclined to do so. However, like in the above point, avoid making it a chore – find an exercise element that they enjoy!

Add friends
Exercising with friends can make it more fun, especially in team games where they can work together with their best mates. This can also help in developing an exercise routine, finding a regular group of friends to be active with, and allowing them to develop together. Being competitive can be good for children, but try to encourage games with different elements where different children can win and better themselves. If a child thinks they will lose, this may knock their confidence and actually cause them to avoid exercise.

Find a routine
Children often respond best to a fairly regular routine. They can look forward to partaking in an activity they enjoy and can improve week by week. This doesn’t have to be the same activity though – try a different sport or game each weekend to discourage boredom and encourage new skill development.