7 Ways to Inspire a Love of Movement in Your Child

 7 Ways to Inspire a Love of Movement in Your Child

As the parent of a young child, you are undoubtedly aware of how sedentary kids’ lives have become in today’s society. With television, video games, and the internet available around the clock, children spend most of their waking hours sitting down rather than moving their bodies and exercising. Although there are ways to encourage movement in children in the home, it’s also important to foster this passion at school as well, since it will help them stay fit and healthy throughout their lives. Here are some tips that you can use to inspire your children to love movement from an early age.

1) Start off slow

It’s important not to push your child too hard when it comes to movement and exercise. Instead, start off slow and let them get used to the idea of being active. You can do this by incorporating movement into everyday activities, such as going for a walk after dinner or playing catch in the backyard. Make sure that you set an example: Children learn from what they see, so make sure that you set an example for your kids by getting active yourself. One way to do this is to take a dance class together, which will give both of you some bonding time while having fun at the same time!

2) Challenge yourself

It’s important to model the behavior you want to see in your child. If you want them to be active, you need to be active too. Plan family outings that involve physical activity, like hiking or biking. And make sure to have active toys available for your child to play with. You can even buy an outdoor swing set if you don’t already have one! Finally, get creative and come up with games for your kids to play outside: Create obstacle courses out of tires or take turns riding on the back of a scooter and having to complete tasks as fast as possible.

3) Set achievable goals

A major key to inspiring a love of movement in your child is by setting achievable goals. This could be as simple as having your child walk around the block once or twice a day. You could also set more ambitious goals, such as having your child participate in a 5K race. Whatever you do, make sure the goal is something that is within reach for your child. If they are not successful, provide encouragement and support. Be careful not to punish them if they cannot complete their task on their own. If you want them to improve, help them figure out how to get there with gentle guidance.

4) Get outside help

You don't have to be a professional athlete or dancer to get your child moving. There are plenty of ways to inspire a love of movement in your child, even if you're not the most active person yourself. Here are seven ideas

5) Nurture their passions

Children are born with an innate sense of curiosity and wonder, which is the perfect foundation for developing a love of movement. As parents, we can nurture this passion by encouraging our children to explore their world through movement. Here are seven ways to do just that -Introduce your child to different types of music. Play instruments or sing together and encourage them to dance around the room 

-Build physical fitness into daily routines - for example, make getting dressed a game where you toss socks at each other or play red light green light; or count how many steps it takes to get from one room to another 

-Investigate nature with your child.

6) Focus on strength training early on

Strength training is an important part of any child’s fitness routine. It helps build strong bones and muscles, and can prevent injuries later on in life. Unfortunately, many parents don’t focus on strength training until their child is older. But it’s never too early to start! Here are 7 ways to get your child interested in strength training 1) Invest in resistance bands or balls: Using resistance bands or balls instead of weights not only works the major muscle groups but also strengthens joints and builds coordination. 2) Start with five-minute sessions: Starting with five-minute sessions will help avoid boredom and make the activity more fun for kids. Once they are used to it, increase the time as needed.

 3) Avoid giving kids pink dumbbells: Kids will quickly become bored if they feel like there is nothing challenging enough for them. 4) Offer plenty of encouragement: Encouragement plays a key role in keeping up motivation so offer plenty of praise when the little one shows improvement. 5) Combine strength training with other activities: When you have young children, combining different types of exercise ensures that everyone stays engaged.

7) Be inspired by others

You can’t be what you can’t see, so it’s important for your child to see people like them doing the things they want to do. Look for role models in books, movies, and real life that show your child it’s possible for them to pursue their dreams. Watch how others move, how their bodies interact with the world around them. Share these experiences together as a family or with friends who are good at this sport or activity - talk about what you saw and why it's so cool! Give your child opportunities to try out different activities, sign them up for lessons if they seem interested in a particular skill,

 or ask your kids what their favorite game is. Introduce new skills slowly and progressively - don't give up on something if your kid doesn't catch on right away; every learner has unique needs. The key is taking the time to teach them in a way that's enjoyable and appropriate for your child. Put learning into perspective: Make sure they know they will improve over time, even if it takes more effort than some other kids might need. If you have fun together, take breaks often when needed, have some healthy snacks on hand for when hunger strikes during practice sessions, and stay positive about their progress – your encouragement will help fuel theirs!