How to Ensure Your Child Gets Enough Exercise

With obesity on the rise among children, exercise is more important than ever. Here's how to ensure your child is getting enough exercise.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sneakers
• Exercise equipment

How to Ensure Your Child Gets Enough Exercise

1. Limit TV time.

2. Encourage your child to play outdoors after school.

3. Choose toys that encourage activity--a ball, a pogo stick, roller skates--there are lots of fun options.

4. Exercise as a family. Take walks, hike, bike--find an activity that your family enjoys and do it together on a regular basis.

5. Sign your child up for after-school activities, sports-related or otherwise. Structured activities will limit lounge time.

6. Set a good example. If you exercise regularly, your child is likely to do the same.

7. Take your child for his yearly physical, and make any adjustments to his routine that the doctor recommends.

Tips & Warnings

• If your child has any health conditions, you should work with her doctor to establish an appropriate exercise routine.