Although kids can be little balls of energy, they don’t always take well to organised activities such as PE at school. However, kids need a lot of exercise, at least an hour of activity three days a week, so how do you encourage them to get active? Here are some exercise ideas that most kids enjoy doing, so they will usually need minimal encouragement to get started.

Swimming

Swimming is generally enjoyed by most kids, even those who are a little afraid of the water at first. After all, who doesn’t love a good splash around in the pool or sea? If you have very young kids, you should enrol in swimming lessons in Perth before they start school if possible. Kids can get in the pool as young as three months, and if you regularly take them swimming, they won’t develop the fear that older kids can have. Going to professional lessons at a learn to swim Brisbane centre also ensures your child learns to swim properly and learns a range of different strokes, so they can become stronger swimmers.

Bike riding

There are many reasons why bike riding is good for kids:

• It gets them away from screens

• They use many of their major muscle groups

• They get fresh air

• It’s excellent cardio for them

Biking is also a lot of fun! When they are young, you can take them out on closed trails or supervised rides, and if it’s safe, they can go out on their bikes with friends when they’re older. It’s important to choose the right bike for your child, so they are comfortable and safe, plus safety equipment such as a good quality helmet must be worn. Cycling is something that a lot of kids enjoy from when they’re young until into adulthood, so get them on their bikes.

Team sports

When you’re playing a sport you enjoy, from football to netball, the time passes much more quickly. As adults will know, when you’re doing something repetitive, like working out in a gym, the time tends to drag, and it feels like much harder work. That’s why it’s good to get kids involved in sports that they love. They run around for an hour or 90 minutes, barely thinking about what they are doing. Also, it’s good for them to have something to focus on, and it can help with behaviour.

Yoga

It’s important for kids to do a range of exercises, including cardio and muscle strengthening activities. Yoga is recommended to strengthen muscles and bones, and it helps kids relax. Some kids even find that yoga can help with their concentration in school, which is why some schools offer it as an activity. Learning yoga at a young age can give children a way to cope with stress for life.

A lot of kids don’t get enough exercise, which means they are at risk from obesity in later life, as well as a range of health conditions. If your child is reluctant to work out, get them involved in some of the activities above, which are a lot of fun for them.