{This is part of a sponsored campaign with Being Latino and Honey Maid. However, all opinions expressed are my own}
I remember the day my parents purchased my very first Nintendo Entertainment System. I was about to have a minor surgical procedure and the purpose was to celebrate my courage and provide a distraction while I recovered. Like most children, I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and excitement of gaming, and like my own kids, getting me to take a break was met with much protest. Inactivity and resultant obesity are such a problem here in the US, that Michelle Obama launched “Let’s Move!”, a campaign designed to provide schools, communities, and families with the tools they need to help kids be more active and make smarter nutritional choices.
In our own family, staying active requires planning and intention. Both of my kids swim once a week during the school year, and twice a week during the Summer. My son plays soccer (when he isn’t breaking his arm!) and my daughter has explored both soccer and dance. Additionally, both of my kids get in varying types of physical activity during our Cub Scout Packs’ meetings and events. Do you struggle with keeping your kids off of screens and electronic devices? Here are my 5 Best Tips for Keeping Your Child Active:
1. Go to the park. This is probably one of the easiest ways to get in your child’s recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. The best part is that in most instances, it is completely free. Visit the National Wildlife Federation, Kaboom, and Find Recreation to find a local park near you.
2. Explore your city’s community center. Along with offering community events and recreation programs, your local center is a valuable resource for sports leagues, community organizations and more. Our local community center offers a wide range of active and creative classes for kids including karate, dance, gymnastics and more.
3. Join a local sports team. One of the easiest ways to incorporate regular activity into your family’s schedule is to join a local sports team. AYSO and Little League are two nationally organizations which facilitate sports play among youth, and this may be a great start for the aspiring athlete. You can also think outside of the box and explore activities like martial arts and tennis. Remember that if you allow your child the freedom to choose their sport, the likelihood they will continue with it increases.
4. Schedule active time. Much like my laundry, if I don’t schedule it, it likely won’t happen since I can always find something better to do. Set up a family calendar (I like to use something easy and shareable like Google Calendar) and schedule home sports practices, walks around your neighborhood, time at your local park or any of your favorite activities. Once you’ve blocked out that time in your schedule, commit to making it a habit. Remember to be active with your child since the best way to encourage children to be active is to lead by example.
5. Limit screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time to 1-2 hours per day TOTAL. If we watch a movie together as a family, we’ve technically hit our limit. Children (and adults) need to be out, active, and exploring their world. In our home, we set a timer so the kids know their time is completed. During the week, we also avoid video games in any format because I have found that it becomes too much of a distraction when homework needs to be completed daily.
Growing, active kids require healthy foods which is why I always send my kids to school and extra-curricular activities with a variety of healthy snacks. Take a peak inside our lunch bag!
As you can see, we strive to incorporate a variety of foods in all categories including fruit, vegetables, dairy, grains, and water. We also find it important to serve drinks without added sugar and whole grain snacks like Honey Maid GoBites. New to the Honey Maid brand, these crispy pocket are filled with either chocolate or vanilla and provide 5 grams of protein and 7 grams of whole grains in each serving. A handful of these satisfy our kids’ need for a “crunchy” snack and I am comfortable that they aren’t high in sugar, fat or calories.
How do you keep your kids active? I’d love to share your thoughts below! And be sure to check out my 5 Smart Tips for Families-On-The-Go as you head out for your Spring Break Adventures!
Images: Rockin’ Mama unless otherwise noted.
- Discover Luxury at Sonesta Irvine: Your Ideal Staycation - August 8, 2024
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
Leave a Reply