Team sports are a great way to keep kids active, but not all kids enjoy playing them. So how can you get your kids moving around when they aren’t part of a sports team?
Choose activities that have the potential for lifelong enjoyment such as biking, swimming, walking, and hiking. These activities are great because while they can be done individually, for a lifetime, they also can be enjoyed as a family. Encourage everyone to go on a walk or bike ride together. Hike in a local park or spend the day at the pool. Get a step counter for each family member and create a friendly competition to see who can get the most steps.
Simply getting your kids outside can be a great way to sneak in exercise. Visit the park, encourage them to climb trees, swing, or play tag. Have your child go on a “treasure hunt” in the backyard and collect items that interest them like sticks, rocks, flowers, or leaves. Catching fireflies in the summer, building a snowman in the winter, or raking leaves in the fall all help kids to be active while not playing a sport.
Just because your child does not enjoy team sports does not mean they may not enjoy an individual sport. Gymnastics, swimming, track and field, wrestling, diving, archery, fencing, golf, or weight lifting are all good examples of individual sports where children compete against themselves.
When screen time is allowed, try to encourage them to move while they are watching television. If a song comes on, get up and dance or march along. If they are playing video games, encourage games that involve movement. If your child is sedentary while enjoying screen time, ask them to complete some sort of activity like chores or outdoor play before they turn the television or tablet on.
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