Healthy Fitness Habits in Children Today

Obesity and low activity levels aside, building healthy fitness habits in children sets them up for success later in life. Exercise and an active lifestyle can improve sleeping habits as well as mood and attitude. Although your child might not immediately want to engage in physical activity, a few simple principles can help create these kinds of associations. Remember, fitness should be seen as something enjoyable and positive, not a punishment.

Exercise

• Exercise in children needs to be moderated carefully, as much of the workout programs and routines that are fit for adults can cause joint damage to growing adolescents. While encouraging sit-ups, pull-ups and push-ups for children, weight training should be approached with a great deal of caution. Consult a physical or health professional before entering into any program that is more than simply body-weight exercises.

  Building exercise habits hinges on a contingent relationship between the enjoyment of the activity and the results that improve health and fitness. Make the exercise time enjoyable, and children will see it as a reward.

Activity

• Activity can extend to something as simple as taking a walk or being outside and active for a minimum of 60 minutes a day. Encouraging participation in sports and other active community- and school-related clubs can help build positive associations with being physically fit and active.

Family Time

• Sometimes what can be most difficult about instilling healthy fitness habits is the importance of parents being a positive influence on children. If the desire is to encourage fitness and exercises, parents need to get involved and participate in activities with their children and encourage getting outside and playing games or more traditional exercise.

  Because of the power that being a role model has on children, it remains important for adults to be consistent in their behaviors, as they will be emulated and replicated by children. Encourage family time that is both active and fun.

Building Habits

• Children do not have the luxury of experience and understanding the longitudinal effect of exercise on their lifespan. That being said, young children require patience from parents in terms of building habits. Positive reinforcement of activity and exercise --- introducing something to increase the behavior, whether it is praise or some kind of reward --- is crucial in helping build healthy habits.