Getting active with kids

By Bio Island Nutrition Team

It may seem impossible to have time to be active or get a session of gym in when having children. But why not get active with them, finding an activity or exercise that suits all ages and gives everyone a decent workout is a great way of teaching children about having a healthy lifestyle and the importance of keeping fit but most importantly its fun for the whole family and being together.

Not only is it time for you to be exercising and getting outdoors its also important for your children as it can help with fine tuning motor skills and strengthening their heart, lungs and muscles. Regular physical activity for kids helps with their growth, development, balance and even reduce stress. It is important for everyone in the household to stay healthy but doing it as a family can have a more positive effect on everyone overall.

Dependent on your child’s age is where the range of options can vary.

• Walking
• Dancing
• Swimming
• Karate
• Walking
• Relay races
• Bicycle Rides
• Oztag
• Hiking
• Tennis
• Basketball
• Football or soccer
• Charity runs or walks
• Have a weekly sports night
• Join a playgroup

A lot of these activities can be done from home or your local park and any group activities there is usually a local community website that shows available groups or sessions to join.eg; karate, basketball or a soccer team. The group activities are a great idea for your children to meet new people but also to be part of a team and learn to work together to achieve a goal. Learning to juggle both worlds doesn’t have to be as hard as it may appear. Integrating activities that everyone enjoys is the best way to maintain a healthy and encouraging lifestyle for the whole family.

Lead by example, you are their role model so encouraging a healthy lifestyle should be an easy thing to do because it will benefit everyone in the family and inspire each other to stay motivated and fit long term.