Research shows that kids are more likely to exercise if their parents do. Once you get kids started on making fitness a habit, chances are they will keep it up for the rest of their lives.

Troubling Trends

Only 40 percent of today’s kids meet average fitness standards. More than 30 percent of children aged 6 to 11 are overweight, and 15.3 percent are obese. Children need to be physically active for 60 minutes a day, experts say, which helps to reduce the risk of developing cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

“People who exercise tend to have fewer health-related complaints overall,” says Adelaide Gurwell, MD, a physician from Iowa City. “Exercise benefits the mind and the body, and it is worth making the extra effort to include it in our daily lives.”

You Can Help

Some kids aren’t ready for sports because they are self-conscious, uncomfortable with peers, or afraid of embarrassment. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to organized sports. As your children’s role model, you want to support their interest in physical activity. Encourage them to play freeze tag or kickball, or plan an outing all family members can enjoy—swimming or bowling, for example. Many activities help build self-esteem, coordination, and general fitness.
 

• Teach your kids yoga: Have your child pretend to be an animal and hold the pose. It works both muscles and imagination.
• Explore local parks; go on nature walks.
• Plant flowers, rake leaves, or do other chores around the house together. Add some fun by running around in the sprinkler as you water your lawn.
   

“Encourage your child to take up lifelong activities—like cycling, running, martial arts, or hiking—that can promote fitness on an individual, noncompetitive level,” recommends Michael Stanwood, a sports medicine coordinator in Delaware.

Start Today

Exercise is vital for a healthy life at any age. Regular activity promotes healthy bones, muscles, and joints; builds endurance and muscle strength; and reduces stress. Whether you’re taking a walk through the zoo together or going to your local fitness center, your whole family will benefit.