Tips for Teaching Children to Stay Fit

With fast food, music players, and video games vying for kids’ attention, finding ways to encourage them to choose something else is a challenge. Help them make wise choices when it comes to food and activities through a few of the tips below.

Regular Meals

Nothing helps combat snacking and fast food binges like regular meals. While it’s a challenge to put a complete and balanced meal on the table every day, three or four times a week can make a big difference to your child’s diet. Even fast food favorites can be made more healthy by serving size — instead of letting your kids dip into the fried chicken bucket themselves, try serving them a modest helping of each dish and keep seconds to a minimum.

Have a Hobby

Keeping your kids fit may mean keeping yourself fit. Lead by example through your own activities, such as biking, walking, swimming, or sports. Even introducing your kids to outdoor games like a Slip and Slide or badminton set can get them turned on to physical activity — and get them started on a lifetime of fun and fitness through “playing outside”.

Avoid Snack Attack

With complete meals sometimes too challenging for families pressed for time, keeping junk food away from on-the-go hands is half the battle. Empty your pantry of pre-packaged snacks like cookies, mini bags of chips, and soft drinks. Instead, stock up on healthier choices like yogurt cups, snack crackers, granola bars, and bottled water, so kids have something healthy to snack on when they’re on the go.

Changing your lifestyle in a few small ways can have a big impact on your child’s future. A few new habits (and a few old ones eliminated) can improve your family’s overall health and fitness.