Fun ideas to have your child exercise without thinking about it.

Sometimes young children spend a great deal of time in car seats, or in front of the TV. This is preventing their motor skills from developing, and can begin a habit of being sedentary. It is important to start a habit of healthy exercise from the beginning, these habits will last a lifetime.

Your child should have at least one hour of daily activity, and that might seem like a hard task to accomplish without going to the gym. But it is easier than you think. And not only is your child exercising, you are spending quality family time with them as well.

Exercise Ideas:

A simple walk before or after supper is something easy and quick. You can make it fun by pointing out or looking for things as you go along. Count butterflies, dogs, cats, squirrels.

Kids love music. Just turn on some tunes, and dance. You’ll be surprised how much exercise, and fun kids will have dancing with you.

Instead of making chores an actual chore, make a game out of it. Laundry could become a game of basketball by throwing it in a hamper.

Workouts can be snuck into activities like food shopping. Have your child walk rather than sit in the cart.

When you’re watching TV with your child, exercise during commercials. You could make funny names out of simple moves like jumping jacks – relate it to a star shape. Or wiggle around on the floor like worms and snakes.

Schedule one night a week for a sports night. This can get the whole family involved in some type of fun activity.

Doing a walk or run for a charity event is not only great exercise; your child will become part of the community as well as be of service to the community.

Don’t have your child do something else while you’re doing yard work. Have them help, and make it fun. They love to be part of what their parents are doing.  They want to be just like you. And if you planted a garden together, that is something to watch grow together; it can double as a science experiment.

If your family has a dog, walking the dog can be a fun way to get exercise without the kids even realizing it.