What I’ve learned about keeping kids fit and healthy

The number one thing parents ask me as a child fitness expert is how to keep their kids busy. “How do I get them active? How do I get my kids to like exercise?”

First of all, don’t let your own attitude cloud how your children see exercise. Most adults shudder at the idea of going for a run, whereas kids don’t have the same association. In reality, sport is something fun they will enjoy… unless they learn from you that it’s a chore.

The pandemic has been a wake-up call. Parents often view after-school activities as extra childcare, but now so many people have realized the true value of keeping children active.

Link exercise with their mental health. If a child knows that something makes them feel better, they will do it – especially when having a bad day. That becomes a great tool for coping early on as it stops kids from looking to other things for comfort, like food.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Some people treat kids like mini-soldiers. Their days are so structured – between school and other activities – that sometimes they just need to feel a bit of freedom… which is what being a child is all about.

Set boundaries, but let children have fun within those limits. Allow them to have input. I might begin a class with a clear plan only for the kids to ask for something else. That versatility gives them a sense of agency.

Be selective. Some parents take their kids to four different activities a week, but it’s about quality – not quantity. I’ve stood on the sidelines watching my own child only do a short drill twice over the course of one hour. Go for things that provide a consistent amount of moti

Buy into the benefits: that’s how it becomes an everyday routine. I tell kids that exercise makes your head happy, your heart healthy, and your body strong – which they totally get – while parents are amazed at the difference it makes to things like mood and sleep.

Activate their imagination. When I give kids the tools to invent their own game, the ones living in rural areas can do it immediately because they’re used to getting creative outdoors. But kids living in urban areas struggle with this because they’re using their imagination less.

Bottom line: Kids don’t need a regimented exercise program to get fit. It’s as simple as keeping them active for 60-80 minutes a day, which can be broken up so easily. It doesn’t matter what the activity is, as long as they’re moving and they enjoy it.