School's out, and you know what that means - the kids are roaming free. Well, mostly. These days, so many of us depend on digital devices like cell phones and tablets to keep our kids occupied while we shop, travel and socialise with friends that it's having a tremendous impact on the health and wellbeing of our children. These holidays, make a point of keeping your kids active so they can stretch those limbs and grow strong. Here are a few tips to inspire the whole family to join in on the fun:
Realise that you need to lead by example
If you want your children to move more, there is one important thing you need to realise - you're going to have to lead by example. When you spend your downtime on the couch, glued to your phone, idly scrolling away, that's the frame of reference they have for relaxation. Start with the way you approach the holidays, and show them that there are other ways of decompressing.
Work in the garden, take the dog for a walk, walk to the store instead of driving and seek out destinations where you can move your body instead of the same-old, same-old dinner and a movie. Try a hiking trail and have a picnic along the way; head out a trampoline park or toss a frisbee on the beach. The options are endless.
Make movement an everyday event
Over the holidays, ask your kids to help you set up a movement schedule. Sit down and let them assist you in drawing up a chart with one movement activity per day. If you want to make it fun, you can each write down an activity (e.g. rollerblading, cycling, dancing, rope jumping, swimming, hiking, etc.) on little pieces of paper and draw it randomly. Use this as your fun time schedule for the duration of the holidays by incorporating it into your day-to-day activities.
Figure out what your kids enjoy and zone in on that
Not every child is equally sporty. While some may enjoy some action cricket or volleyball in the backyard, others are less blessed in terms of ball sense. Try to think outside of the box to find movement options the whole family can enjoy. It doesn't have to hinge on super expensive equipment either - you can just put on some tunes and shake it in the kitchen as well.
There you have it - a few top tips to help you keep your children active over the holidays. In the end, it's all about helping them to stay healthy, so do what you can to instill a love of physical activity in your little ones.
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