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Fit for the Fun of It
Great Ways to Encourage Children to Exercise
By Katherine Bontrager
"The teenage years are a good time to get children involved in sports with daily or regular weekly activity," Dr. Salerno says. "If such sports are not offered at school, parents can get their kids involved in club sports or through the church or the community. But the main point is, don't wait for this change to happen; prevention is the best medicine."
Another essential step? Being a good role model, Tanner says. Parents must also exercise and make nutritious eating decisions, too. "Kids pick up on the sincerity of the parent," Tanner says.
Passehl agrees. "In terms of physical activity, the best thing parents can do is model active lifestyle habits for their children and take the time to be active with their child," she says. "Activities should be easy, fun and non-competitive." Passehl is quick to add, however, that it is important that parents ensure children are not overscheduled. Being forced to eat fast food in the car between events does not teach healthy eating habits, and stress can cause children to overeat.
Measuring the success of these healthy habits is simple – check in with your child's doctor to track the weight loss and gauge how previously tight clothes fit. But also be aware of changes that don't entail just lost inches or pounds. How your child chooses to pass his or her time and the choices made at the dinner table are also good indicators.
"Yes, the weight will give you a measurable, tangible outcome," Tanner says. "Still, we don't want to measure success in a number but in behaviors and feelings. True success will come over time, with healthy habits as the ultimate bonus."
