Benita Sen

A family that exercises together usually brims with energy and enthusiasm. Having fun and remaining healthy happens automatically. Helping your family remain active is one of the greatest gifts you can give.

Do it together

Turn activity sessions into workout capsules for the family. Encourage children to join you in simple cardio exercises like jumps and arm swings, or take the stairs rather than the lift. Every extra activity burns unwanted calories, keeping children safe from the scourge of childhood obesity that leads to chronic illnesses and disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) says so.

Observe!

Every child is unique. Does yours have a special liking for a certain type of physical activity? Does she dislike certain exercises? Build on positives. If your child runs well in short bursts, she may be more comfortable with sprints than with long distance running. Some children can skip 100 times without a falter while they find toe-touches boring. So, give your child more of what she enjoys.

Set a routine

Although you may be tempted to sleep late over weekends, rising early and venturing outdoors for a walk or run makes you feel better and will help you fight Monday morning blues. Is your child too busy during the week to spend half an hour outdoors in the morning? What about an after-school tennis session or an evening swim? Set a routine and stick with it.

Travel time fun

While planning your vacations, try to find destinations which offer simple adventure sports that all of you can enjoy together. Take sports equipment along, and enjoy the outdoors as much as you can.

Choose the right activities

However much your child may love sports and exercise, it is necessary to introduce variety. If you are not much of a sportsperson, reach out for advice. Make sure you get pointers from the right person because wrong advice can harm your child. Jogs, swimming, racquet sports like badminton, tennis and table tennis and team games like cricket will keep your child interested in sports. However it is advisable to start with warm-up exercises.

Also read: Boost family fitness with traditional rope skipping