With many schools closed across the country, parents are finding it hard to get their kids to exercise. While some schools are offering P.E. instruction, other families are on their own to find different ways to stay healthy. It’s not easy to get kids to work out during lockdown and social distancing, but we’ve found some great inspiration from friends and online sources.
A good way to get kids exercising is to be supportive and acknowledge that this is a hard time for everyone. One suggestion is to lead by example and let your kids see you exercising so they can experience fitness as part of a healthy life, said Scott Hutchinson of Tae Ryong Taekwondo in Los Angeles.
I was having a hard time getting my middle schooler motivated to work out on his own so I encouraged him to take an online kickboxing class with me that Hutchinson was offering by Zoom through his studio. It was fun and energetic and I wasn’t asking my 14-year-old to do anything that I wasn’t doing myself. Including a difficult series of pushups.
Workouts for kids
Get out of the house
If it’s possible, try to get kids outside for some exercise. If you don’t have a backyard, take a walk together or go for a run. Being outside is good for children and teens’ emotional and mental health, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
It helps them to be physically healthier because they tend to play harder outside, helps promote curiosity, more positive behavior and reduces stress and depression, according to the AAP.
Getting outside can also be more fun. Switching it up from indoor and outdoor exercise is a great way to keep kids motivated. Hutchinson said he can tell his daughter that she needs to exercise, but she’s more likely to do it if they’re exercising together like going on a long walk.
“The main thing is to also motivate yourself and do whatever it is you’re asking them to do, you do it too,” Hutchinson said.
