In a world that is as technology driven as ours, it isn’t uncommon for kids to rely on electronics to keep themselves entertained. If you are like most parents, you worry about the amount of time your child spends in front of the TV every day. You want to get them active, but you may not know where to start. Here are a few tips to help you in your quest.
Set an example for your kids. After a long day at work, it’s tempting to crash in front of the TV for a while to unwind, but if you want your kids to be active, you’re going to have to be active too. You don’t need to go run a marathon, as long as you are up and doing things, your kids will too. Brainstorm some activities with them that you can do as a family. Have a family game night, go for a walk together, go to the park, it doesn’t matter what it is as long as you are spending time together.
Set clear limits about the amount of time your kids are allowed in front of the TV each day. Once they have hit their limit they have to get up and do something else. The key to time limits is consistency. If you give in and let them watch an extra half hour so you can finish dinner, they will expect you to give them an extra half hour every time.
Often times, kids sit in front of the TV because they can’t think of anything else to do. Give them ideas of other things that they can do in place of TV time. Send them out into the backyard with a ball for a little while. Go to the library and pick out a few books for them to read. Go on a family bike ride. There are lots of things to do with your kids to keep them active and healthy. Try a few and see what happens, you never know when they’re going to find a new hobby!