Children's Fitness Must Be Fun

My mother used to say that I needed more fun than anyone she'd ever met. Maybe so. I love to have fun and so do your children. Seventy percent of children under twelve who try a team sport will abandon it by the time they are thirteen. There are a lot of reasons why this might be but I'm certain one of them was they just weren't having fun with it.

It is more fun to try new activities when we expect to be successful and to have a sense of accomplishment. Interacting with others also makes the exercise or sport more fun. laughter and a sense of humor helps, too. Children want to learn so when we help them improve a skill that also helps with the fun factor.

Adults are most likely to be active if they were active as children. Take a long term view when introducing your child to a new physical activity knowing that the goal is life time enjoyment of and participation in physical fitness activities and not just quick mastery while they are young. Guard against exercise dropout by making exercise fun and you'll be making a great investment in your child's future health and happiness.