Staying active is easier than you think

School is back in session and most children are returning to the classroom full-time for the first time in a long time. In this period of adjusting to new routines, it’s important for families to prioritize their physical health and emotional wellbeing.

Registered pediatric dietitians at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital encourage parents and caregivers to take the time to model healthy habits for children. Staying active is particularly beneficial for children’s emotional wellbeing, especially as they navigate new teachers, classmates, schedules and stresses.

It’s hard to keep all the balls in the air. There is a lot to relearn and readjust to when school starts, but now is a wonderful time to encourage healthy activities by offering opportunities, inspiration and encouragement together as a family.

Incorporating activity into your child’s day can often be done effectively without a lot of pre-planning or formality. As much as possible, try to be active together and make it fun. Here are some simple ideas for incorporating after-school or weekend activities into your family’s schedule:

• Get outside. This can be for as little as five minutes, rain or shine. Fresh air is good for the eyes and skin while providing a change of environment and a quick shift in perspective.
• Take an exploratory walk. Get curious with age-appropriate questions related to the weather. Are the leaves changing colors? Can you spot any wildlife? What shapes do the clouds look like?
• Listen. Take a few minutes and listen to your child, your surroundings and yourself. We can’t emphasize enough the importance of actively listening to your child. Sometimes we hear, but don’t pause to reflect and affirm. Actively listening helps us recognize our internal language and connects us to our children.
• Celebrate small changes. Every small change in activity is worth celebrating. Did you do something new this week? Did you increase your active time?
• Exercise equals play. For children of all ages, exercise translates to play. By keeping this mindset, you’re helping create healthy habits without pressure for your children.
• Schedule active time. As we adjust to new school schedules and obligations, don’t forget to schedule time for your family to be active. Make plans to go to the park, for a hike, or take a family walk around the neighborhood.
• Be the action instead of watching screens. Jumping rope, drawing with chalk, tossing balls, hula hooping, throwing flying discs, playing hide ‘n seek, creating obstacle courses and scavenger hunts, all support developmental skills and help spin the family fun meter.
• Look for free or low-cost events that support being active. Participating in family-friendly activities is an easy way to stay active and have fun as a family.