How to Establish Healthy Exercise Routines in Children

It is recommended that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. While that might seem like a lot, exercise does not need to be completely structured for children. Take time at the beginning of the week to assess the opportunities for activity. Incorporate some of these ideas for exercise routines, and your children will be increasing their daily activity before you know it.

Difficulty:Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Create a schedule at the beginning of each week. Decide what type of physical activity your child can take advantage of each day.

Allow your children to participate in group or individual sport activities. Including practices and events, this will likely get your child active at least 3 days per week. Consider soccer, basketball, dance or martial arts.

Find out how much activity your child is getting during the school day. Consider physical education classes and active recess. Talk with the teachers and count their activity during school toward their daily total.

Play together as a family. Children need time to be creative and express themselves through physical activity. Plan a weekly trip to the park for time at the playground, or have a family dance competition in the living room.

Send kids out for play time with friends. While family time is important, children also need time with their peers. Show them some outdoor games they can play together that will keep them active.

Invite them to exercise with you. If you are doing an exercise video at home, have children participate by doing the motions without weights. Have them jog around the block once with you or bike together.

Combine all the different activities your child does throughout the week and analyze the approximate amount of time. If it reaches about 60 minutes per day, keep this as their standard routine. If they need more exercise time, incorporate some of these ideas each week.

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