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Fun way to fitness

Children love to play but a little regulation from parents makes it a healthy activity



GAMES THEY PLAY A mix of their favourite sports will help children exercise all their muscles

Parents and children have different ideas about sports and exercise. Children are not aware of physical activity and exercise, but they certainly know how to play. Parents who are keen on exercise as a healthful activity, like to control their wards but children just hate regimented play. When play morphs into exercise, children often tune out and retreat to computer games and television. Parents need to know how to keep their children interested in exercise without making it seem mandatory.

Children hate it when someone else decides what they can play. They like to discover for themselves what games interest them. Parents often cannot understand these choices, until maybe they think about their own childhood.

Favourite games

Most children will eventually find a game they like. More likely, they will have two or three favourite games. This is actually good. A mix of sports will ensure fitness by exercising all major muscles. Parents need not worry if their children do not take to sports right away.

Young children limit their activities to short bursts. As they grow older, they play for longer and become interested in sports.

This is because older children understand the rules of sports, and take pleasure in seeing a game through to the end.

Parents are more successful as role models than as teachers. Children will naturally take up whatever sport their parents enjoy, but they will continue with that sport only if they do not feel pressured. Children will also joyfully accompany their parents everywhere – even on long walks and swims. Just don’t tell your children that this stuff is called exercise.

Although kids may prefer their parents stay out of their sport life, there is a definite role for parents.

Children are poor judges of safety, and the best thing parents can do is to ensure a safe playing environment. Safety benefits parents and children alike.

Parents tend to be less uptight about what their children play once they feel confident about the safety aspect. Parents should also look out for injuries.

Children have poor reflexes, which make falls more dangerous. Injuries in children may damage growth plates at the bone tips and impair long-term growth.

RAJIV M.

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