Encouraging kids to get involved in sports
While some kids take to sports like ducks to water, others take a little bit more convincing. Exercise is really important for the health of your children, so even if they don’t end up joining a sports team, they should be working their muscles on a regular basis. But if getting your children to play outside feels like you’re fighting an uphill battle, then this blog has some tips to make your life a bit easier. It can take some time to build enthusiasm for exercise in your children, but it can be done. Get started with some of the following tips.
Buy some supplies
The best way to introduce children to fitness is in your own backyard. This is a space where they feel safe and comfortable and won’t be worried about what other children might think about their skills. Invest in some different-sized balls as well as racquets, but don’t forget to have some fun with it too. Things like volleyball spike training equipment or a trampoline can capture a child’s attention and might be a great gateway into playing sports more conventionally.
Join in
If you’re sending your kids outside by themselves to play sports then they probably won’t see it as much fun. Get the whole family involved or invite some of the neighborhood kids to join in as well. Your little ones are bound to be rolling around laughing when they see their parents attempting to shoot hoops or score goals and failing miserably. Let them feel like they can win and soon they’ll delight in your weekend matches where they can see you stumbling around the garden too.
Try something new
Not all kids are good at the same kinds of sports, so think outside of the box. If your son or daughter hates taking part in the local cross-country club or has never shown an interest in football, it might be time to take them swimming or enroll them in a dance class. Ask your children what they think they’d enjoy and don’t rule out more specialized forms of exercise like gymnastics or ice skating if they’re accessible in your area and within your budget.
Offer a reward
Every parent hopes that exercise will become its own reward in the long run, but in the beginning, you might need to offer your children an incentive. This could be watching an extra half an hour of TV or being allowed to decide what the family is going to have for dinner at the weekend. Once your child starts to enjoy exercise, you’ll no longer have to bargain with them.
Talk to them
While not every child will enjoy exercise as much as playing computer games or reading a book, if your kids are very reluctant to join in with sports try to talk to them about it. There could be a deeper problem at hand, such as a fear of being bullied or feeling like they’re not good enough to join in.
