Teen Health Activities

Being a physically active teen today is a challenge, especially when met with the temptations of TV, computers and gaming consoles. Fitness and healthy eating habits are the cornerstones to teen health. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that getting teens into routine physical activity increases their chances of becoming healthy and active adults. There are many ways in which your teens can incorporate physical activity into their day.

Organized Sports

• Playing organized sports is one of the easiest ways to keep teens active.

  One of the best ways to be active as a teen is to play organized sports. This can make time go faster and make physical activity less of a task. Find a sport that fits your teen's athleticism and experience. Make sure it's a sport that he can be interested in and ultimately enjoy whether he plays for the school, a recreation team or a sandlot ball game. Organized sports can be played individually like golf or in teams as small as two such as in doubles for tennis or as big as a football squad.

Alternative Sports

• Disc golf or ultimate Frisbee offers alternative to other team sports such as soccer.

  Maybe your teen is not a fan of popular sports like football, basketball, hockey or soccer. Depending on your area, a neighborhood park or recreation center may offer alternative sports such as disc golf (also known as ultimate Frisbee) and flag football. Get them in-touch with their inner child with the playground's greatest hits, including dodgeball, kickball and double-dutch. These non-traditional organized sports are physically challenging and fun.

The Great Outdoors

• Take advantage of the outdoors.

  The siren call of the great outdoors sometimes is difficult to resist. Teens can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as jogging, biking or hiking around your neighborhood and local park. You can find the nearest park or nature trail near you through your state's Department of Natural Resources or through the National Park Services.

  An alternative to the usual outdoor activity fare is tree climbing. Because climbing trees can be dangerous on your own, companies such as Tree Climbers International offer a safe place for climbers of all levels. They have locations through out the United States and trained instructors on hand to help your teen get the most out of the experience.

No Special Equipment Required

• Teens can stay active without the aid of special equipment or special skills just by changing a few habits. If your a teen drives, encourage her to park further than she normally would to the school or mall entrance and to take the stairs instead of the elevator. Encourage teens to dance to their favorite music, or have them do several repetitions of sit-ups, push-ups and jumping jacks during TV commercials.