5 TIPS TO HELP YOUR KIDS WANT TO WORK OUT
The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s. Today, about one in five school-aged children (ages 6–19) has obesity.
Childhood obesity has immediate and long-term impacts on physical, social, and emotional health.
- Children with obesity are at higher risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases that impact physical health, such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, type 2 diabetes, and risk factors for heart disease.
- Children with obesity are bullied and teased more than their normal weight peers, and are more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem.
- In the long term, childhood obesity also is associated with having obesity as an adult, which is linked to serious conditions and diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and several types of cancer.
One of the keys to overcoming obesity is exercise! As parents we can help our children enjoy regular exercise. Here are 5 tips to help your child want to exercise.
EXERCISE AS PUNISHMENT
Making exercise fun for kids makes them do it longer and increases their weight loss success by 75%. This is not just a theory, it is a scientific fact. As an industry it is time to evolve and to make changes for the better.
BE A TEAM PLAYER
Ask your young students what part of their martial arts classes they enjoy the most. Is it Forms, Weapons, Self defense or Sparring? Once you find out, encourage them to do it more. The best exercise for the martial arts is the martial arts.
TAKE A CLASS
Not TEACH a class… TAKE one. With them! Kids enjoy exercise for the same reasons adults do: the camaraderie of friends and the fun of following an instructor. Notice we said following? Kids are the world greatest mimics and they will copy the behaviors they see far MORE than what they hear. Who makes the best type of leader? The one who leads by EXAMPLE! Get on the floor and do it with them. The kids will respect and listen to you more and who knows, you might just shed a few extra pounds as a bonus. Plus, exercise in a martial arts class for kids is a wonderful ways for children to be exposed to both fitness and martial arts at once in a happy, non-competitive environment.
NEIGHBORHOOD FUN IN THE SUMMER = FUN TIME:
Encourage your students to play outdoors with other kids who live nearby. A basic game of tag requires no equipment, but it is a great way for kids to work up a sweat and burn some calories while playing with friends. A fun outdoor play date with friends or family can be a great reward.
RESPECT THEIR LEVEL
Some children are natural athletes while others enjoy more relaxed physical pursuits. Respect your student’s level and work within it, only gradually increasing the intensity. As with adults, all children progress at a different pace. Slowly adding exercise into each class is the best method. Try the 5 video exercise tips we have listed in this post- BUT using only 1 a day at 1 minute in each class for the next five days. Then do two exercise a class, then three and so on, until they can do all 5 exercises at 1 minute each in a single class!
Whatever physical activity your students do and whatever level they are at, always be sure to encourage them with positive reinforcement. If they enjoy what they’re doing, they’ll do more of it. And the more they do the better they get, the better they get the longer they will stay training with you and the longer they stay the better your chances of helping them reach their goals!