Physical activity is essential yet very rare in this day and age when everything humans do can be done much easier and faster because of technology. Among the many people, today who lack physical activity are teenagers. That’s probably because they are too busy with school, work, and interests that don’t require or allow them to move around. Well, many are also extremely lazy to exercise regularly.
While these are not anymore so surprising because it’s the reality today, these teenagers should take a step out of this reality. If not, the youth today will not be as vigorous and healthy as youth should be. Many health issues nowadays are experienced by young people because of the lack of good care of one’s physical body.
Exercise Regularly For Teenagers
Parents have a huge and significant role in the lives of these teens. If you’re a parent reading this, you know how it’s right to enjoy one’s teenage years, but it’s even more right to do so while caring for one’s health. It would help if you reminded your children about the importance of exercise.
Advise them to work out in any way and any day possible because you desire that they grow and glow healthfully now that they are young and until when they get older, be their boost for them to get their body active!
Here are 10 ways parents can encourage their teenagers to exercise regularly. Please read, and share them with your fellow parents! You can also bookmark this for future reference!
1- Bring Physical Health into Your Family Discussions
Communication is key in every relationship, including the most important of all family. Speak with each other. Value healthy conversations. Make time for family gatherings wherein you can catch up, share stories and make good memories together by simply talking with each other in the living room or while on a weekend getaway.
As you come together to have a great time, don’t hesitate to bring physical health into family discussions. It would help if you talked about each other’s health and wellness because you care for each other. Parents, you have the obligation and the authority to counsel and advise your teenagers to exercise regularly, especially when you’re aware that their lifestyles are sedentary.
When you take health into family discussions, you’re not only conveying how you treasure the lives of your members but also, you’re paving the way to solving health issues and lifestyle mischoices as a family. You can live better alongside each other!
2 – Manage Screen Time at Home
Many teenagers are hard to discipline; they’re hard-headed and stubborn. However, regardless of that, stand firm by responsible screen time. Manage screen time for your teenagers, but to avoid making them feel like they’re being arrested, do it for the whole family too. Let everyone have well-behaved screen time.
Why is this a must? Because screens at home are among the biggest and most complex hurdles that hinder teenagers from physical activity. If your home has orderly screen time management, you and your kids can allot time for more productive and physically active endeavors. You can commit better to exercise regularly.
3 – Allow A Day or Week for the Family’s Outdoor Bonding
Everyone in the family is often busy with work, school, and other duties, but a day for outdoor bonding won’t hurt. If you can make it a week, then that’s better!
Most of the time, families’ outdoor leisure is all about eating out, but to make it a healthier pursuit, do something active with your teens! You can walk, jog or play catch and tag. You can swim, cycle or hike together!
4 – Let Them Engage in Active Sports
Athletes are among the healthiest health nuts on Earth. Don’t you agree? That’s because they have figures to maintain, physical conditions to nurture, and mindsets to hold on to.
If your teenagers are athletes, support them all you can. Exercising regularly is part of their lives and careers. The same thing you should do if your children are aspiring athletes. Let your teens engage in active sports, like basketball, volleyball, badminton, swimming, tennis, and more.
If you don’t think they’re interested, still, don’t be afraid to at least try inviting them to learn and train. Who knows? Your encouragement might be the only thing they need to discover their talents and passion in active sports.
5 – Buy Them Exercise Equipment
Often, teenagers are not curious and excited about getting fit and healthy until you put exercise equipment right in front of them.
Of course, they will be interested and focused on regular exercise when they see high-quality exercise equipment, so buy them one or two if you can. Get them the exercise equipment they have been eyeing for a long time already. Give it as a present or as a reward for achieving something in school or life generally.
See their faces light up when you do this! See them exercise regularly without you even pushing them to. That’s not just because they’ll think it would be a waste if they don’t use the exercise equipment you bought for them. It’s also because they’re more motivated by the exercise equipment’s presence!
6 – Shop Matching Workout Clothes for the Family
Another thing that will energize your teenagers to exercise regularly is their OOTDs. To make it more fun and fabulous, shop matching workout clothes for the whole family! You’ll be more invigorated to get up and go sweat off with your youngsters!
7 – Invite them (And their friends) to Group Fitness Classes
Teenagers are more engrossed in exercising when their friends go with them too. It shows how peer influence is substantial. Thus your children’s peers must be good and decent people.
Invite your teens and also their friends to group fitness classes. They will enjoy these a lot for sure! Talk to their friends’ parents to encourage their teenagers to take your recommendation. It’s for the good of your children, so it won’t be challenging to convince them as well!
8 – If Possible, Create a Home Gym
Now, this is a complicated and expensive project, but if possible, create a home gym.
If bringing your teenagers to the gym is nearly impossible for you, then bring the gym to your home instead. It provides no hassle, no danger, and no extra outdoor expenditures. Your teens can exercise regularly with ease, comfort, and convenience because they’re just at home. They can wear whatever they want without being conscious of other people. They can exercise any time of day without thinking about closing hours and peak seasons!
9 – Exercise with Your Kids
Last but not least, the best encouragement you can give to your teenagers to exercise regularly is exercising with them! Spend time with them, whether it’s a dance exercise, a walking exercise, or an intense workout. It would be extra fun and stimulating to do it with the family! Show them how living healthy is done! What’s more, it’s a wonderful opportunity to bond while being active physically!
10. Activate Teens!
As young as possible, people should nurture a healthy body born out of a healthy lifestyle. Exercising regularly is a major component of that lifestyle, and teenagers should highly regard it.
As your children’s first teachers and powerful influencers, parents make a move for them to make a move to treasure their health even better. You must be grateful when you have a child that initiates a lavish lifestyle themselves.
However, if your youngster isn’t like that, you can help them big time. In words and actions, you can! Make it your whole family’s lifestyle! Combine discipline and enjoyment too so that you can live healthy and happy as well!