Children today are growing up in a completely different
world than it was 20 years ago. There
are first graders with cell phones, teens who would rather text than talk, and
video games with such lifelike graphics it’s scary. The lure of these video
games is especially strong in children and teens and brings with it the problem
of little or no outside activity in this age group. As parents, it’s important to know how to get
your children involved in something other than staring at a TV screen or
holding a game controller all day long.
Create a routine – A daily routine can help your child get
rid of bad habits and instill some discipline in the whole family. Talk to your child about getting on a
schedule and let them be involved in creating a routine that works for all of
you. Limit the amount of time your child
is in front of the television, on the Internet, or on his/her cell phone and
stick to it. Make a trip to the park or a walk outside part of your daily
routine. If it’s too cold outside, play
a game of tag or hide and seek just to get yourself and your child moving. Small daily steps can help to break some bad
habits and lead you into a new way of life.
Be the example – Parents can set a great example for their
children if they are active in their daily routine. If your child sees you exercising or spending
more time outside than in front of the television they will most likely follow
your example as they grow older. It may
take a little bit of nudging to get them to put the cell phone down but it will
happen. Likewise, if you are a couch
potato, or have your nose stuck in the computer all day they will be more apt
to follow in your footsteps. Be the
person that you would want your child to be.
If you keep that in mind, it won’t be hard to set good habits in motion
for the whole family.
Find activities your child will enjoy – This can be anything
from organized sports at school to a daily trip to the local gym. Talk to your child about getting involved in
school activities that will keep them moving.
If he/she isn’t much of a sports fanatic there are a ton of other ways
to keep them active. Swimming, or simply
blasting some music and dancing around the living room are great ways to keep
in shape and have fun while doing it.
It may take some time to establish a routine that works for
you and your family but don’t give up.
Make small changes on a daily basis to get your child used to any form
of daily activity. Pretty soon, a trip
to the park or playing ball outside will be the new normal instead of coming
home to play video games or surf the Internet.
Making small daily changes not only forms better habits in your child,
but in your whole family.
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