Get your kids to exercise

In the era of Internet, television and video games, it's really difficult to convince kids do exercise. Nowadays children have so many fun and interesting things to do indoors, that they are hardly ready to go out and workout. Exercise is extremely important as a child grows into an adult. The less exercise your child experiences, the less likely they will exercise when they get older. By following some tips you can motivate your children and get them moving!

• You need to set the rules in advance. Make a deal with them: for every half hour they surf the web or watch TV, they have to do half an hour of something physical. Physical doesn't have to be exercise per se. Your child can add physical activity throughout the day in a number of ways.

• Get out of your house and play with your children. Ride bikes with them, take them to the park, and etc.

• Get a family pet to help give your child a little exercise as kids love pets and love to play with them. A dog will need to be walked and will want to play fetch in the back yard. Playing with an animal can give your child needed exercise.

• Stop filling your house full of junk food and lying around on the couch all day. Your children will always look up to you more than anyone else in the world.

• Your child will never know if he or she enjoys an activity unless they try it. Teach them how to play baseball, basketball, and football. See which sport they like best and sign them up for a little league team.

• Arrange playdates. Other children are great at getting kids to move. Implement a rule strictly limiting time in front of the television, computer and video games.

• Put on some fun music that kids love and dance away. Make some funny dance moves to get the kids laughing and having fun.

• When you and your kids go shopping, always park in a distant corner of the lot even if closer spaces are available. Pile out of the car and hike across the pavement, jumping over puddles and balancing along the curb.

• If your children earn an allowance, try to add chores that have a physical component, such as mowing the lawn, raking leaves, or sweeping.

• If you have a workout routine, why not include your children? If they learn young that this is a normal part of daily life, they are more likely to incorporate exercise into their lives permanently.

Some physical activity your kid will enjoy and is work as an exercise:

• Hiking is a great way to get kids to exercise. Climbing up steep trails through the mountains or just going for long walks through the forest will get kids moving. Find creeks to skip rocks in and let them climb the trees. When your child is outdoors with no toys or other distractions he will find activities to do with his body.

• Swimming is excellent exercise that most kids can't get enough of. Most communities have a public pool or a pool in a school that is open to the public on certain nights. Bring your child to the pool at least once a week and let him swim to his heart's content. If your child doesn't know how to swim get in the water and teach him!

• Bike riding is a great exercise that the entire family can do together. Biking works the legs, upper body and cardiovascular system and it gets kid outside into the world to see new things. Plan family bike trips through scenic country routes or your local bike paths.

• Young teens who walk to and from school are 27 percent more active during the rest of the day than those who get a ride. Even walking just one way appears to increase activity throughout the day. Talk with other parents about sending your kids to school together following a set, safe route.

Always remember that children learn most everything through example. So if you serve as a good example of a person who cares about fitness, they will value fitness in their lives.

(Sources: myoverweightchild.com, essortment.com, rodale.com, ehow.com, firehow.com, howtodothings.com)