Encouraging Outside Activity

The weather has warmed up and school is out-summer is here! Summertime provides the perfect opportunity for children to get up, out, and moving, heading outdoors to benefit from the fresh air, sunshine, and physical activity they need to stay healthy.

Unfortunately, far too many children in North America are not getting the exercise they need. Instead of spending their free time outside playing tag or hide-and-seek, jumping rope, riding bikes or scooters, kicking around a soccer ball, exploring, or even just going for a walk, kids are often found indoors, glued to a television set, computer screen, cell phone, or gaming system.

But physical activity is important for children. Any type of outdoor physical activity will provide some form of exercise, which will help prevent obesity (a growing epidemic among North American children), build stronger bones and muscles, and reduce the risk of disease both now and later on in life. Regular physical activity also helps provide much-needed vitamin D, stress relief, a boost to the immune system, social interaction with peers, and teaching opportunities.

So what can parents do to help promote and encourage exercise and outdoor physical activity in children during the opportune summer months? Plenty! The key is to provide your children with opportunities for exercise and outdoor activity, to limit sedentary alternatives, to "walk the talk," and to make the activity fun.

Provide opportunities

Take advantage of the summer weather by utilizing every opportunity to spend time outdoors. It's finally nice outside, so get your kids outside! Provide opportunities for your children to spend time outside engaged in physical activity every day.

Limit sedentary alternatives

If you limit sedentary activities (e.g., T.V./movie time, computer time, etc.), your kids will be more likely to play outside and get some exercise.

Walk the talk

If you tell your children to "go play outside and get some exercise" but you're not doing the same, they may not want to listen or care. "Mom and Dad aren't doing it, so why should we?" they may wonder, and rightly so. Modeling is a great teacher and motivator, so get yourself up and moving! Play with your kids outside so you can all get some exercise together, as a family.

Need ideas?

Go for a bike ride in the late afternoon. Throw around a Frisbee or kick around a soccer ball after dinner. Make it a habit to take a walk around the neighborhood together before bedtime. Go swimming at the beach on the weekend. Head to a park and go on a hike together.

Make it fun

If you make exercise and outdoor physical activity seem like a chore, your children will probably feel the same way, which will dampen their motivation and make them less likely to engage in physical activity.

Further, it may help if you give your children different ideas for what to do outside. "Just go run around for a bit" might not be enough of a suggestion or motivation. So, what's "fun"? Try asking your kids what they would like to do. Tag, hide-and-seek, kicking around a ball, jump-roping, Frisbee, bike-riding, and roller-blading are some pretty basic-but fun-ideas.

Do your kids own scooters? If so, they can use their scooters as a fun source of entertainment and exercise. If your family doesn't own any scooters, consider investing in one (or more) for your children. Scooters make great gifts and can provide hours of both fun and physical activity. Scooters are growing in popularity and are considered a "trend" in children's play gear, and you can find scooters to fit your child's age, size, and personality.

There is plenty for your children to do outside during the summer months. Encourage them to get moving-and make sure you're following your own example-and you'll be well on the path to good health.

Getting the kids outside to exercise in the age of the video game can be difficult. Items like the Rockboard are gaining popularity both with children and parents.