Image by freepik
Children can be energetic and restless. They’re balls filled with unlimited energy that can often be too much for most parents. This is where gadgets come in handy. Once children reach a threshold that’s too tiring for parents to match, they’re often bounded by their videos and shows, restricted by their gadgets. While this is definitely beneficial for parents, it can be detrimental to children.
In today’s kids, active childhood has become a concept of the past. Instead of encouraged, it’s often what gets children in trouble, what parents see as fussy and unnecessary.
“Sit down!”
“Don’t move around a lot!”
“You’ll hurt yourself,” or “You’ll mess up your clothes!”
Whether out of concern or simply because it makes parents exhausted, children’s movements have become constricted. This doesn’t pose significant harm but can be detrimental to their development.
Why Is It Important that Children Are Active?
An active childhood benefits children’s health and development for a number of obvious reasons. Without going deep into discussions, everyone knows how important movement is for children’s health. It makes them less at risk of complications such as obesity and pumps their system with ample happy hormones to keep them cheery.
If there’s a time to establish healthy habits, it would be during early childhood. Aside from the fact that children are still curious and willing to try different routines, this also ensures they will have ample time to sustain these habits towards adulthood. Hence, if there’s one important thing parents and adults are encouraged to do for children, it’s to reduce their screen time and introduce a more active childhood.
Whether it’s by tapping into their interest in dancing or by engaging in active learning, there are a lot of activities to support this endeavor. All parents need to do is look into them.
Author Kristina Orliczky makes things easier for parents.
She writes a book with physical activities for kids to help combine two of the most critical aspects of child development: literacy and movement. Mona’s Mitten aims to make children move along and engage their bodies as they read the story. The whole point of the book is to encourage its readers to move, highlighting the importance of active childhood and learning for young minds.
What Does It Mean to Be an Active Child?
For adults, being active means working out or going out for a run or a power walk. However, from a child’s perspective, this can be a completely different thing.
An active childhood can include sports such as soccer. It can be playing tag with friends. But with how prevalent technology has become in children’s lives, any activity can already be considered exercise for them.
Despite an active childhood already encompassing countless activities, there’s still some insufficiency. Screen time is too leisurely to be missed. It’s one of the most tempting sedimentary activities most children may have trouble letting go of.
Hence, every parent is responsible for ensuring that they are raising an active child. They are the key to establishing healthy behaviors in children.
How to Encourage Active Childhood?
Parenting is tough. With a lot of factors to consider, it’s normal for parents to fall into traps that may be detrimental to their children. They need to be cautious of their decisions and rules to avoid this. They must set clear boundaries to push children toward a more active childhood.
Here’s where they can start:
Avoid Screen Time as a Reward
Aside from using it as a calming device or something to keep children preoccupied, parents also often use screen time as a prize. Did they do something good? That’s one hour of screen time. While one hour is relatively generous, that’s one hour without exercise. Parents shouldn’t make this the norm.
It’s important to limit their screen time. Hence, parents should also avoid gifting this to their children – that’s counterintuitive.
When parents have their own things to accomplish, they shouldn’t immediately resort to screen time for their children. This is where their imagination develops. As long as nothing dangerous is around, children should be allowed to play on their own. Let their creativity do the work.
Set a Routine with Them
What’s a better way to encourage active childhood than through routines? Nothing. Parents can set a pattern that includes screen-free activities for children to follow and look forward to daily. They can dedicate activities children are passionate about that are away from devices. This can be exercising, reading, pursuing a hobby, or even a quick run at the park.
By helping them build routines, children will naturally distance themselves from screens as they enjoy the activities their parents do with them.
Goals and Rewards
Children are motivated best by rewards. Parents can use this to their advantage.
For a more active childhood, parents must set realistic goals for children to aim for. Whether this is a reduction in screen time or their presence in workshops or classes, they should establish what children should work on. When they do achieve these, children must also be appropriately rewarded.
But remember, these rewards shouldn’t be involving their devices.
Let them enjoy a couple of snacks or chocolates. Give them more time to play with their friends outside. Buy them a bike. There are many things to be considered as rewards that will give children more reasons to maintain a healthy balance.
These things may be a challenge, not only for children but also for parents. However, active childhood is integral to child development and must be upheld. It’s integral to their overall well-being. So, parents must learn to take control and let their children discover the wonders of the natural world.
If you want to start your child’s journey to a more active childhood, read and play with them through Kristina Orliczky’s Mona’s Mitten. Grab a copy now!
Book with physical activities for kids
- Fun and Playing in Exercising: A Day of Amusing Work - September 28, 2024
- Active Childhood: How to Reduce Screen Time for Children? - September 21, 2024
- Possible Ways for Memory Enhancement with Storytelling - August 29, 2024
Recent Comments