I'm Worried About My Child's Lack of Physical Activity

We know all too well that sometimes kids can be reluctant to engage in physical activity, preferring instead to entertain themselves by sitting in front of the TV or their computers. As pediatricians, we have been asked by hundreds of parents for recommendations for how to get, and keep, their children active. The following is a list of suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for helping your child better live the active life:

• Start early. Young children love to play and be active. Encouraging lots of safe and unstructured movement and play can help build a strong foundation for an active lifestyle.
• Set a positive example by leading an active lifestyle yourself.
• Make physical activity part of your family’s daily routine by taking family walks or playing active games together.
• Give your children equipment that encourages physical activity.
• Take young people to places where they can be active, such as public parks, community baseball fields, or basketball courts.
• Be positive about the physical activities in which your child participates and encourage them to be interested in new activities.
• Make physical activity fun. Fun activities can be anything your child enjoys, either structured or non-structured. Activities can range from team or individual sports to recreational activities such as walking, running, skating, bicycling, swimming, playground activities, or free-time play.
• Instead of watching television after dinner, encourage your child to find fun activities to do on their own or with friends and family, such as walking, playing chase, or riding bikes.
• Be safe! Always provide protective equipment such as helmets, wrist pads, or knee pads for activities such as riding bicycles, or scooters, skateboarding, roller skating, rock-wall climbing, and other activities where there may be a high risk of injuries. Ensure also that activities are appropriate for the age of your child.

We hope the above will be helpful in getting, and keeping, your child active and healthy, both physically and emotionally. We encourage you to get in touch with us if you have any questions or would like some additional support in achieving the important goal of a physically active child!