It’s no secret kids repeat what they hear and copy those around them. So how can parents model the importance of fitness to their children? Fitness expert and mom of two, Andrea Marcellus, has the perfect tips for parents hoping to raise active children (without forcing exercise upon them), including the following:
Do a short beginner workout on a fitness app. Tell them it’s a grown-ups only thing, but that you think they might be strong enough for it. This will pique their interest for two reasons: a) it’s a screen; b) you built up their confidence and made them feel mature.
Challenge athletic kids or older teens to set up "family phys ed.” At breakfast, have everyone write down an exercise or drill to do for 1-2 minutes each. You only need four or five exercises for a 10-minute workout, but often kids can think up tons from gym class or warm-ups from whatever sports they play. Again, shorter is better to start if the goal is to make a ritual out of it.
Ask your kids to make you a workout playlist and blast it! Sharing music is a great way to bond, and rhythm naturally stimulates the desire to move. Playing your kids own music really loud and exercising to it, even just for a short while, is a great way to model the importance of daily fitness, while also showing them the respect by sharing their interests.
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