By Marisa Hochberg : https://nypost.com/2020/09/28/montauks-surf-lodge-pivots-to-wellness-amid-pandemic/
Keeping your kids healthy can be challenging, especially if you have young children at home. However, by making simple changes in your daily routine, you can help your child get the most from every day. Good health is important for kids of any age. Even toddlers need to grow and learn new things, which makes staying active a priority. The sooner you begin encouraging activity in your child, the better their chances of developing a healthy lifestyle as they grow older. Keeping your child active means incorporating physical activity into your daily life. This doesn’t just mean taking them to a gym or sports field: it could be simply putting them down for a walk or playing tag with them at home. As long as they are moving and getting some fresh air every day, they will develop strong muscles and lungs that will help them lead a healthy life as an adult. Here are some tips on how you can start keeping your child active today:
Start with short bursts of activity
The first thing you need to do to get your child active is to get them moving. While toddlers may not be able to run laps around the house, short bursts of activity can encourage your child to explore the world around them. This can be as simple as walking to the other side of the room and back, or climbing up on the kitchen counter for a view of the kitchen. The more your child is encouraged to move, the more they will want to do it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. This could be as simple as getting up from the table and walking around the room. It doesn’t need to be intense: simply get your child moving to get them more active.
Add new activities to your day
When you have a young child, it can be tempting to limit their activity to specific times of day, such as during mealtimes or while they are in the car. However, this will only limit your child’s activity during these times. You can encourage your child to be more active throughout the day by adding in new, active activities. This could be cleaning the house while it is still messy, taking part in playtime with your child, or simply moving around while you are on the phone or chatting with family members. Simply adding in an extra activity or two each day will improve the amount of daily activity your child gets, as well as keeping them happy and healthy throughout their life.
Set a daily routine
Setting a daily routine will help you and your child get into a routine quickly. This can be as simple as taking a break from the computer or television 30 minutes before you usually do, and resetting for another 30 minutes after you finish. You could also try breaking up your daily routine with some activities that you haven’t normally done. This could be indoor activities like gardening or woodwork, or outdoor activities like taking a walk or hiking along a nearby trail. This will help break up your day without disrupting your routine and adding some variety to your routine.
Teach your child to take part in everyday tasks
The CDC recommends that children develop their motor skills as soon as possible. This will help them become confident when they are interacting with others in the future, and an early start will also help your child develop healthy habits as they grow up. There are many motor skills that can be developed as soon as your child can walk. These include: Everyday tasks, like putting on or taking off shoes or clothes, can also become more active. This could be taking part in a simple cleaning task, or getting your child to help with the washing up. This will help build their confidence and improve their physical skills at the same time. Serving your child a healthy meal could be a great opportunity to incorporate some physical activity into the mealtime routine. This could be as simple as getting your child to chop an onion or wash a vegetable, or you can take part in chopping the vegetables yourself. This will help build your confidence and give you the ability to provide for your family in the future.
Encourage your child to walk or run to school
There are many benefits to walking or running to school, even if your child doesn’t have to do the walk during a specific time of day. This will help them stay active throughout the day, and will also improve their fitness. School is the perfect place to encourage your child to be more active and build confidence in their motor skills. There are many ways to get your child active during the school day: You could encourage your child to get involved in sports or other sports clubs at school. This could be as simple as encouraging your child to join a team or take part in a sport that they enjoy. You can also get your child involved in physical education at school. This could be as simple as getting them to move around during a break or during a lesson that isn’t focused on skill development. This will help your child stay active and build confidence as they grow older.
Conclusion
Kids need the same health and fitness benefits as adults, including daily exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking. Keeping your child active will help them get these benefits as they grow up. The best way to do this is to encourage regular activity from a young age, and start making small changes in your daily routine today. Kids are naturally curious and eager to learn. They will discover new things, gain skills, and develop their confidence as they become more active. This will help your child grow into a confident, healthy young person, ready to explore the world as they get older.
