It’s a sad fact of modern life that young children in the 21st century spend much less time outside than in our generation. Recent media reports have illustrated that many modern children only roam within 300 yards of their homes, and as a result could be becoming much less healthy, both physically and mentally.
So what can you do to help make sure that you’re child doesn’t become a coach potato? One way is to encourage them to develop a love for sports that will not only keep them fit, but will provide many useful socialising skills too.
Join a club
One of the simplest ways to cultivate your child’s enjoyment of sports is to enrole them at a local sports club. A regular weekly sports club is a great way to get out of the house and advance their skills in their chosen sport. The opportunity of learning alongside other children will aid social skills, and the expert tuition that they’ll receive will also give you a little extra time for yourself too!
Such sports clubs can provide access to a range of services that aren’t so easy to emulate around the home. So if your child shows a fondness for swimming pools, or tennis courts, this could be a good place to start!
The England Athletics website has a great resource for finding a club near you that will cater to your child’s particular sporting needs.
Daily exercise
It’s recommended that all children exercise for one hour per day in order to stave off the potential for becoming overweight and developing debilitating illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes in later late.
So with that in mind, make sure that your child can play in an area near the home in a way that doesn’t require much setting up or equipment. For example, games of football can easily be played in a local park with just a ball and a couple of coats for goalposts.
With Wimbledon coming up soon, it’s a great time to get your kid into sports as they’ll be keen to emulate their heroes’ efforts. A game of tennis can be played against a brick wall with just a tennis racket and a tennis ball, thus minimising the need for expensive tennis courts – and you’ll be able to keep an eye on your child too.
And if you’re looking for any more tips on how to keep your child fit and active, then visit the helpful Fit For Sport website.
