How to Get Kids Moving & Exercising

Vibrant Life, May, 2000 by Victor M. Parachin

* Make it a family affair.

When Tracy noticed her 15-year-old son, Jason, was becoming interested in weight lifting, she saw an opportunity. "As Jason entered his early teens, a gap between us began to grow. Because I belong to a local gym where I was taking aerobic classes, I asked Jason if he would like to go with me and work out on weights together. We've been working out for nearly a year now, going to the gym four times a week. In addition to strengthening muscles, we find ourselves discussing just about anything and everything. This time together has moved us from just mother and son to friends sharing hopes, dreams, and problems."

Finally, if you get discouraged at trying to dislodge couch potatoes, don't give up. Persistence will pay off. Motivate yourself by reviewing the many important reasons that kids need exercise. Remind yourself that active kids are less likely to be overweight, will be more relaxed, sleep better, have more stamina, develop stronger hearts, and be less likely to suffer from depression.

(*) Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright [C] 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

RELATED ARTICLE: Videos Add Fun to Kids' Workouts

by Anita Homing

Who wouldn't want their children to learn the value of lifetime fitness? Physically active children have fewer chronic health problems, have a stronger self-image and more self-confidence, and are better able to meet the demands of daily physical activity. The challenge is to find something that will get your kids moving and loving it!

There are more and more quality materials that can assist in just that aim. Exercise videos and books for children eliminate any reason for not introducing children to the benefits of lifetime fitness.

Videos currently available have multimedia background sets, animation, and catchy music similar to other shows children watch. The difference is these videos emphasize fitness, health, nutrition, and movement. The videos and books listed here are a great way to get children up and moving, learning about their bodies, and growing in appreciation of how God made them.

* Elmocize--28 minutes. Two- to 6-year-olds will enjoy unstructured movement with their favorite Sesame Street characters. The choreography is very basic, with emphasis on hopping, bending, and stretching. To show that fitness is for everyone, there is a segment showing a workout in a chair featuring a girl with a disability. This was the favorite with our family's fitness expert, 5-year-old Ray. A small booklet for parents is included.

* Workout With Mommy and Me--25 minutes. Three- to 7-year-olds move constantly, beginning with several stretching songs. The songs alternate between aerobics and toning before ending with sitting down and stretching out. Instructor Barbara Davis, an Olympic coach and excellent teacher, and her two daughters lead two other moms and their children. The moves are low-impact. The repetition of movements, games, and songs, along with the steady pace, make it my personal favorite. The colorful background shifts every few minutes. It contains some educational segments, such as counting, naming the continents, mixing colors, and how flowers grow. It ends with a real elephant visiting the children.