How To Raise Active Kids: 5 Simple Tips To Live By
Hey y'all! I feel like it has been a while since I sat down and put all my thoughts on "paper". We have been going through so many family events, changes and I honestly feel like my head is spinning! But more on that later..
Today, I am going to share with you something that is a priority for all parents when raising their kids. That's raising ACTIVE (and happy) kids! Look my kids are not star athletes by any means (at least not now 😉) but them being active is so important to their overall health!
When we first started homeschooling, our activity levels were no where near where they were. The kids had gym class 2 times a week plus daily recess at public school and Italy would spend two hours a day with me at the gym playing with other little kids. I was always in the gym and making sure the kids knew I was being active too.
When we started homeschooling, we just moved to a city where the kids had no roots or friends. I wasn't the happiest person in the world because my life got up rooted and I let that interfere with our active lifestyles.
Once I seen just how inactive we had become, I made it a goal to make sure that the kids and I still maintained an active life. I'm not going to lie, there were times where I would not do anything "active" for days and it really started to take a toll on all of us.
SO now.. how did we do it? How can you do it? It's simple really!
1. Get out- Even if it is just walking around the block, walking around your neighborhood or at a track, getting out is the first stepping stone to encouraging your kids to be active.
3. Competition/Games- Playing games and making obstacle courses are one way that I really get my kids moving. Sometimes, they are nothing but a ball of energy and it can be difficult for them to focus on school work, make them crabby or just flat out mean. At our loft, we have several sets of stairs outside, a ramp and a huge walkway by the entrance. When they need a little extra "workout" we go outside and they run an obstacle course race or see who can go up and down the stairs the most. My kids are very competitive so they love doing this.
4. Be an example- By being an example, your kids will imitate you. When I am sneaking my chocolate because I had a stressful day( terrible habit I know) they automatically want candy too. When I make a salad, they all come up with ways we can eat healthy together. I know it may seem like an obvious thing, but kids really pay attention.. TO EVERY THING!
5.Push them- Pushing your kids to try harder or be better has been twisted into this "stage mom" perception and quite frankly, I think it hurts our kids more than helps them. I do my best to teach my kids that not everyone will win and if you loose, try harder next time. When a kid really wants something, they will work for it! When Thai broke her arm, she was so afraid to get back on the playground, do anything high up or anything that required her to use her hands like the monkey bars. After talking with her about why she has to keep trying and why she shouldn't give up... she tried again. and she did great!
When raising kids, we want them to live long, healthy and happy lives. I hope these tips help you and your family live a more happy and active lifestyle!
How do y'all stay active? Let me know in the comments below!
45 comments
Teaching your children how to be active and maintain a healthy lifestyle is very important in their development. Back when I was a child I used to play a lot outside. Children today prefer to play on the computer. So good for you for giving your children such a great example!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! We do a lot of school work on the computer now, so I definitely try to get them out more and find a balance!
DeleteSuch a great way to give them good habits for life. They all look super cute here.
ReplyDelete❥ tanvii.com
Thank you! I do my best to set them up for a great life!
DeleteGreat tips! Getting kids out and being active is great for them and the parents as well :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes! I need them to burn off some energy lol
DeleteI don't have kids but I definitely agree with going to the park as much as possible!!! I used to love the swings!
ReplyDeleteWe spent majority of our day there yesterday and they were all over the place! It's great!
DeleteI am so glad to see posts like this one. Kids these days need to be more active. I have to limit my kids on the games and tv usage. Especially with the holidays and being out of school now.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, since a lot of our school work is on the computer, we try extra harder to get out and about!
DeleteFirstly, I adore these pictures of your kids! They look so full of life! I will keep in mind these tips as my little one is only 18 months :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Melanie! yes 18 months is a little young lol, but starting them early is a great habit to start!
DeleteI LOVE THIS POST! Let kids be wild and freeeee!
ReplyDeletehahaha yes!!!
DeleteI don't have kids but I definitely agree with going to the park as much as possible!!! I'll share this post
ReplyDeleteAww thank you! I really appreciate you sharing it!
DeleteThese are really good tips! Any work schedule and it getting dark so soon limits our time at the park these days but we take full advantage of the backyard! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh the back yard is the best! We don't have one yet but as soon as we do, they will probably live in the backyard lol
DeleteI'm not quite there yet, my 5 & 7 yr old boys are pretty much a moving blur all day! Love those pictures of the kids in the leaves!
ReplyDeleteThey will be there SOON! lol Thank you so much! They love the Fall just as much as I do!
DeleteI feel like fall is the best time for kids. My son also loves to play with leaves, run around and observe all the colors. It's so great to have all your children be so active :)
ReplyDeleteYes! The Fall is perfect for kids. They don't realize that "playing in leaves" is actually code for clean the yard or exercise lol
DeleteI love those last few photos of your kids Brigette. They look so happy. I must admit I'm the bad one when it comes to being active in our house although we do spend quite a bit of time outdoors and both my kids are super fit. They seem to thrive on it
ReplyDeleteThank you Michelle! As long as your kids are out enjoying the world, then they are active! It can be a hassle, I admit. Between keeping up the house, homeschooling, cooking and everything else, it seems impossible at times.
DeleteI absolutely love this post! It's a great way to raise an active kid, to visit park and play more competitive games as well.
ReplyDeleteYes! We love that they are competitive! It pushes them to do their best all the time! Now to work on being a good winner or loser lol
DeleteGreat tips! It is amazing to see parents like you genuinely spending time with yourckids to make them healthy. I see a lot of kids spending the day with an iPad, this is a great example!
ReplyDeleteThank you! There are days where we don't make it outside much but they are still playing and being active in the house!
DeleteI do not have kids but I thoroughly enjoyed your post with beautiful pics of kids with beaming faces.
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly!
DeleteI agree 100%, with technology being the way it is now, I found my children more often behind a screen rather than wanting to go out and play or be in nature. we also instituted No electronic weekend which we do once a month, when the kids have to refrain from TV, cellphone, tablets and such.
ReplyDeleteI may not have any children myself but these are all fabulous points, I think my sister does most of these pretty well. I think your children look super happy and it sounds like they are getting the best of everything :)
ReplyDeleteActive kids are the best! These are great tips! I totally agree with being an example!
ReplyDeleteI love how you teach them that it's okay to lose! They are all so adorable!! It's important just to go out, even for a walk.
ReplyDeleteYour kids are adorable! I was homeschooled for every year accept 10th grade. We would participate in sports through our local rec department for free or cheap. When the sports I liked were not in season, I remember doing home aerobic workout videos. These days I love just dance games for Wii!
ReplyDeleteYou have such cute kids! I don't have children, but these are great tips.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have any kids but I believe that it’s so important to encourage them to go outside and be active rather than letting them sit inside on computers all day.
ReplyDeleteBe an example is ultra important. I cannot emphasize the importance of this. Many adults expect kids not to learn the bad habits that they have, say vulgarities, bad manners or even smoking. How can they not pick it up when they are doing that in front of them all the time!
ReplyDeleteloved those happy faces in your pics, children when dealt rightly grow rightly too, nice tips to make children active
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy that you're enstilling being active in your children! With the rise of technology (cellphones, computers, video games) it can be very easy for a child to just sit in the house and watch tv all day.
ReplyDeleteYou have really adorable children! I wish my sisters and I had been raised to be so active, but sadly, that wasn't the case. I feel now the lack of that kind of competitiveness and perseverance that physical activity and sport can teach you.
ReplyDeleteI have seen how so many kids nowadays spend most of their time indoors on their computers and it worries me. Definitely a good thing to raise active kids, I will do the same for mine.
ReplyDeleteYou’re doing an awesome job, mama!! Nice work keeping your kiddos active even while moving cities and homeschooling. It can be so hard! We moved several times as well and I have what I call very active boys.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, we try to keep our kids active by us being active ourselves. I'm worn out by the end of the day for sure!
ReplyDeleteThese are such good tips! It's hard for us as we don't have a lot of space in our current house, but I am trying to make more time for the boys to play in what little back yard we have at the moment. The park nearby is a bit big for them as they are only toddlers, but when they get older and bigger they will enjoy it more for sure!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a good weekend, and you got some bargains in the sales. I did some Christmas shopping last week but I haven't bought anything in the sales yet.
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