Easy Exercise Tips for Children Under Age 10

Exercise should be a part of one’s life at any age, but exercise for children under ten should follow a different set of rules. With young children one of the most important things is to make sure that fitness is fun. This will encourage them to stay active and will make them more likely to make fitness a permanent part of their life. As with any fitness plan, a fitness plan for kids under ten should be varied and include different types activities to ensure well balanced fitness.

Playtime Outside

One of the best ways for children to get exercise is simply by playing outside. Unfortunately with rise of video games, children are spending more time sitting on the couch than plying tag outside. It can sometimes be difficult for your child to have fun outside if you live in the city or if there aren’t children their age in the neighborhood. There are two way to alleviate this problem. First, try spending sometime outside playing with your children. Having a game of catch, playing tag, or swinging are all great ways to get your child active while make sure they have fun. The other option is to take them to a nearby park or playground where they can play with other kids and run around.

Sports

Sports are one of the best ways to keep young kids in shape while teaching them important lessons about teamwork and responsibility. Some sports are better than other for developing different skills. Baseball for example is one of the best sports for developing hand eye concentration. Gymnastics is also a great activity that improves balance, flexibility, and strength. Other popular sports such as basketball or soccer provide great cardiovascular exercise.

Fitness Video Games

While we mentioned earlier that video games can often distract kids from fitness, they can also be used to keep kids fit. Video games such as Wii Fit and Microsoft Kinect force players up of the couch and allow them to use their bodies as controllers. Some Wii games can give kids a great cardiovascular workout while showing them just how fun fitness can be. Don’t just limit kids to games specifically designed for fitness either. Sports games of the Wii or Kinect can also provide great exercise. Try letting your kids only play Kinect and Wii video games that make them move around a lot for one week and see if they even miss their old games. You might be surprised how easy it is to turn play time into something beneficial for their bodies.

Resistance Training

Resistance training is often a controversial topic for children under the age of 10, but there is little scientific reason not to have children engage is some resistance training as long as they are properly instructed and trained. In fact, pushups, squats, and pull ups are great exercise that can be done with or without weight that can help your child build strength and develop a good foundation for later in life.

Before starting any new fitness program for your child you should always consult a doctor.