My Child Hates To Exercise. How Do I Encourage Him Or Her To Get Active?

February 1, 2009 -- Question: My child hates to exercise. How do I encourage him or her to get active?

Answer: If your child hates to exercise and you want them to be active, it's important to understand that activity can take a number of different forms. It doesn't have to be organized sports or team sports. Those aren't always appropriate for every child. But individual activities can count just as much and so can recreational activities.

Sometimes, children, when they hear the words 'sports' or 'exercise,' they think (of) something that's drudgery and no fun. And remember, with children it's really not about sports and exercise, its mostly about getting physically active and having active recreation.

So find out the kinds of activities that your child likes to do. It can be something as simple as walking, but it might be more interesting if your child walks around the zoo or the park. It might be bike riding, but it doesn't have to be in a race. It can be bike riding as a family.

Looking at family activities is another way to get your children active, so that it becomes part of the family lifestyle and they're not singled out. But it can also be something done indoors. You know, exercising or dancing to videos are certainly appropriate physical activities that kids can find also very enjoyable. So remember, it's important to make physical activity just a part of your child's fun. And that way you're insuring that your child is more likely going to be more physically active but also enjoy doing it.