Looking for ways to get kids interested in being healthy?
I've been blessed to raise a gaggle of kids and I learned a couple of tricks along the way that worked really well.
Set An Example
Nothing will do more to help your kids get interested in being healthy than fostering a healthy and active lifestyle as part of your family culture. Kids learn by example. There are a lot of great activities that lend themselves to the family and from an early age you can lead the way by planning family time around group activities.
This extends to nutrition as well. Stocking the house with healthy food and snacks that the family enjoys are great ways to get your kids interested in being healthy.
This is a win/win for parents as well since a healthy and active lifestyle reduces stress and makes you more productive.
Join Their Team
Kids will gravitate toward the activities they love and your best bet is to join the team.
I raised my kids around bicycles. From their earliest years they rode in a trailer and later their own bikes. As a family we competed many 25 and even 50 mile bike rides before they reached the age of 8. But something funny happened along the way: They developed their own tastes.
For my oldest it was hockey. We lived in Las Vegas while my kids were growing up so there wasn't an ice rink on every corner but we did invest in a net, sticks and in-line skates for the family.
My second boy became active in cheer-leading. I have to admit that this seemed strange to me at first but as he trained relentlessly to perform the maneuvers I could see the conditioning and team-building skills he was developing. We couldn't get on the court with him but we did support him by attending his activities.
My youngest son started running cross-country and then ended up playing volleyball. Again, we couldn't get on the court with him but we made sure he knew we supported him.
My daughter, the youngest, drew from the examples of all the family and though she ended up in the marching band she also ran cross-country, played volleyball and even raced bicycles competitively for a couple of years.
All of my kids are adults now and have carried these habits into their own family culture. Those small seeds we planted early and the effort we made to include them in the activities we loved and support the ones they loved have paid huge dividends.
It may not be easy to get kids interested in being healthy but it is simple. Just set the example and support them in every way you can.
Tom grew up as a 'fat kid' and struggled with weight and self image the whole time he was growing up. A healthy lifestyle for kids needs healthy nutrition. Get the latest in kids nutrition from Tom's Healthy Kids Newsletter.
To be the example mom & dad need to, well, be the example. Have some weight you want to lose or need help making good nutritional choices for your family? Tom's Easy Diet Coach Newsletter will make it easy for you. Subscribe now at EasyDietCoach.com
By Tom Bradley
I've been blessed to raise a gaggle of kids and I learned a couple of tricks along the way that worked really well.
Set An Example
Nothing will do more to help your kids get interested in being healthy than fostering a healthy and active lifestyle as part of your family culture. Kids learn by example. There are a lot of great activities that lend themselves to the family and from an early age you can lead the way by planning family time around group activities.
This extends to nutrition as well. Stocking the house with healthy food and snacks that the family enjoys are great ways to get your kids interested in being healthy.
This is a win/win for parents as well since a healthy and active lifestyle reduces stress and makes you more productive.
Join Their Team
Kids will gravitate toward the activities they love and your best bet is to join the team.
I raised my kids around bicycles. From their earliest years they rode in a trailer and later their own bikes. As a family we competed many 25 and even 50 mile bike rides before they reached the age of 8. But something funny happened along the way: They developed their own tastes.
For my oldest it was hockey. We lived in Las Vegas while my kids were growing up so there wasn't an ice rink on every corner but we did invest in a net, sticks and in-line skates for the family.
My second boy became active in cheer-leading. I have to admit that this seemed strange to me at first but as he trained relentlessly to perform the maneuvers I could see the conditioning and team-building skills he was developing. We couldn't get on the court with him but we did support him by attending his activities.
My youngest son started running cross-country and then ended up playing volleyball. Again, we couldn't get on the court with him but we made sure he knew we supported him.
My daughter, the youngest, drew from the examples of all the family and though she ended up in the marching band she also ran cross-country, played volleyball and even raced bicycles competitively for a couple of years.
All of my kids are adults now and have carried these habits into their own family culture. Those small seeds we planted early and the effort we made to include them in the activities we loved and support the ones they loved have paid huge dividends.
It may not be easy to get kids interested in being healthy but it is simple. Just set the example and support them in every way you can.
Tom grew up as a 'fat kid' and struggled with weight and self image the whole time he was growing up. A healthy lifestyle for kids needs healthy nutrition. Get the latest in kids nutrition from Tom's Healthy Kids Newsletter.
To be the example mom & dad need to, well, be the example. Have some weight you want to lose or need help making good nutritional choices for your family? Tom's Easy Diet Coach Newsletter will make it easy for you. Subscribe now at EasyDietCoach.com
By Tom Bradley
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