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With many schools closed across the country, parents are finding it hard to get their kids to exercise. While some schools are offering P.E. instruction, other families are on their own to find different ways to stay healthy. It’s not easy to get kids to work out during lockdown and social distancing, but we’ve found some great inspiration from friends and online sources.
A good way to get kids exercising is to be supportive and acknowledge that this is a hard time for everyone. One suggestion is to lead by example and let your kids see you exercising so they can experience fitness as part of a healthy life, said Scott Hutchinson of Tae Ryong Taekwondo in Los Angeles.
I was having a hard time getting my middle schooler motivated to work out on his own so I encouraged him to take an online kickboxing class with me that Hutchinson was offering by Zoom through his studio. It was fun and energetic and I wasn’t asking my 14-year-old to do anything that I wasn’t doing myself. Including a difficult series of pushups.
Workouts for kids
It’s important to make the workouts fun and to encourage kids along the way, Los Angeles mom Jae Wu told Mom.com. Wu and her husband try to lead by example and work out with their two sons every day.
“They’ve seen both of their parents being physically active since they were born,” Wu said. “They know their parents know how to work out.”
They start by showing them the proper form when doing particular exercises to prevent injury along the way. Over the last two months of the Los Angeles Safer at Home order, they have played different games like telling jokes while doing planks to get the boys’ minds off of how hard it is to hold a plank.
“It’s such a quality time with them to be engaged for 35 to 40 minutes,” Wu said. “It’s been a nice connection and competition every day.”
At-home exercises
We know it’s not possible for all parents to exercise with their kids, so what are some resources for parents to find workouts kids can do on their own?
Activekids has different exercises for kids of all ages, including the one linked to here that has full-body conditioning exercises accompanied by a video slideshow to demonstrate how to do each exercise. They’re all exercises you can do in a smaller space.
PE With Joe is a YouTube PE class by Joe Wicks, The Body Coach. Every weekday he makes a different 30-ish minute class for kids and there’s even a weekend morning family class if parents feel like joining in.
KIDZ BOP Dance Along Videos are a great way to get kids moving if they’re not into burpees and pushups or as a Fun Friday workout. Their “Official At Home Music Video” is especially cute.
Nike Training Club is a great app for tweens and teens. The free workouts comes with detailed instructions on how to do all kinds of workouts from yoga to cardio to boxing to strength exercises. There are 10-minute to hourlong workouts for beginner, intermediate, and advanced athletes.
Cosmic Yoga’s YouTube channel and app gets kids excited to do yoga. Instructor Jaime tells cute stories, demonstrates poses using animation and does guided meditation.
Get out of the house
If it’s possible, try to get kids outside for some exercise. If you don’t have a backyard, take a walk together or go for a run. Being outside is good for children and teens’ emotional and mental health, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
It helps them to be physically healthier because they tend to play harder outside, helps promote curiosity, more positive behavior and reduces stress and depression, according to the AAP.
Getting outside can also be more fun. Switching it up from indoor and outdoor exercise is a great way to keep kids motivated. Hutchinson said he can tell his daughter that she needs to exercise, but she’s more likely to do it if they’re exercising together like going on a long walk.
“The main thing is to also motivate yourself and do whatever it is you’re asking them to do, you do it too,” Hutchinson said.
