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Working out with kids is a fine art! Here are some tips and tricks to get the most out of it. 

Anyone who follows me on Instagram will know that I love including my kids in my workout and actively encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. Even the baby gets put in a sling and I carry her around (can’t beat some natural strength walking!) That being said, it is a fine art to keep them enthusiastic about it as well as getting what you need out of it. I find my little guy loves the competitive aspect against each other with cardio (and he loves running around) but starts to get bored if I am doing strength or weight training as it is more repetitive.

Luckily Sam decided to offer a few tips and tricks for working out with kids as part of this guest post to ensure everyone has fun but also gets a good workout and why it is so important to encourage physical activities early on.

Sam bio picA Bit About Sam:

Samantha has a B.Sc. in nutrition, and has spent two years working as a personal trainer. Since then, she has embarked on a mission to conquer the blogosphere. When not in the gym or on the track, you can find her on Twitter, or in a tea shop. Read more of Sam’s work at Ripped.me.

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Just let it be healthy, and everything else will fall into place. A phrase often heard by couples taking their first steps in parenthood from their more experienced friends and family trying to wash away their fears and insecurities of what the road ahead might have in store.

What novice parents don’t realise at first is that the impromptu parenting adage stands the test of time and that health truly is the only prerequisite for a happy life. And parents will do anything to ensure their child is happy.

In comes physical activity along with its numerous health benefits for the developing child, no matter the age, but in accordance with their physical and mental capabilities.

A child should be stimulated to be active and energetic from a very early age, and while simple play will suffice until the age of five, afterwards you should take a more serious approach towards shaping your little devils to love sports and nurture a lifelong passion for physical health. Here are some simple tips on how you can have a fun and productive time working out with your kids.

Risk & Reward

The higher the risk, the higher the prize. Exercise is an excellent teacher of lifelong skills and values, if used correctly to facilitate learning, sportsmanship, critical thinking and fast decision-making. Your child should understand the risks that come with any decision, and you should not only devote time to using exercise as a gateway to physical health, but also towards instilling the right values and skills in your child.

A lifelong love for physical activity is born at home, so naturally, you want to be the hero your child looks up to. Be sure to start with simple workouts in your backyard, throwing the ball around or setting up a fun obstacle course. Gradually set the proverbial bar higher over time, teaching your child the importance of shooting high in order to achieve better results in life.

kids playing

Sportsmanship Builds Happy Adults

A child that doesn’t know how to play nice will not be a team player in their adulthood. And no man is an island in the 21st century. This is why teaching sportsmanship is essential for a developing mind. Be sure to encourage your child to try a variety of sports with you and more importantly, to want to succeed in each one.

This doesn’t mean you should allow them to win, letting your kids win does them no favours. However, you should praise their achievements and inspire them to praise their opponents as well, win or lose. By acknowledging their opponent’s worth, they learn how to win humbly.

kids in a team working out with kids

Strength Should Be Emphasised

Unfortunately, not all sports were created equal. There is only a handful of sports that don’t develop muscular or skeletal imbalances over time, and even fewer ones are safe for your child to practice with determination and vigour.

Of all the sports in the world, the safest are weight lifting, swimming, and bodyweight training. While swimming will develop the upper body musculature, it doesn’t work the legs enough, leading to imbalances down the road.

Contrary to popular belief, weightlifting is one of the safest sports that not only promote bone density, correct posture and increased muscle mass, it also sets the stage for a strong and happy future.

It doesn’t have to be anything too heavy, just a few weights and a bunch of fun exercises such as squats and push-ups, coupled with a few safety features, such as training gloves and sturdy weightlifting shoes for added friction and your kid is all set to become strong and healthy!

Aerobic Abilities Are Also Important

Strength training coupled with endurance training such as running, jumping, climbing and sprinting brings the best of both worlds together.

Not only will your child become fit and healthy, you will also develop a healthy training habit as well, as there is nothing more important for a mother who has given birth than to strengthen her musculature and reinforce her skeletal system along with elevating her cardio.

strong mums - working out with kids

Physical exercise is of the utmost importance for a developing child, as much as it is important for a young parent in order to maintain their vigour and strength. Be sure to follow these simple tips on how to inspire a lifelong passion for training in the hearts and minds of your children and you will create your own unique oasis of family health and long-term well-being.

For more fantastic guest posts check out the Collaborations Index

The importance of encouraging physical exercise and working out in kids as well as the best options to choose and tips and tricks for being successful.

20 comments on “Tips & Tricks For Working Out With Kids”

  1. Love this post has some really great points! I don’t have kids yet but when I do I will make sure they are active because physical activity is very important and healthy. Thanks for sharing this 🙂

  2. Getting kids involved in physical activity is so important and when you can benefit too, that’s even better! I love being able to do things as a family.

  3. My eight year old daughter is on a competitive rock climbing team and overall is a very active child. Her two year old sister wants to be just like her so I should be taking advantage of both of them wanting to get out and exercise together!

  4. I like the idea of emphasizing strength and effort rather than skill. My kids would get really discouraged if they thought they weren’t doing it “right”

  5. Definitely, agree with how strong should be emphasized. Especially with girls! Too often girls grow up with body dysmorphia, and showing them from a young age that they can treat their body well and aspire to be strong takes away from the focus of words like “skinny” or “thin”

  6. This makes me think of the time my sister and I were doing a HITT workout and my niece and nephew were trying to mimic our moves. I didn’t know whether to be impressed or insulted when they were lasting longer than we were.

  7. These are great tips and tricks! As an early years teacher, I know how important it is to work on physical development from a young age. I hope as a parent in the not too distant future that I am able to follow your tips.

  8. Now that my daughter is older, It is fun to involve her in workouts. She thinks they are fun most of the time. It can be a little harder with the baby, but just have to get creative lol

  9. What a useful post! When I was little I used to work out with my mom because I thought it was so funny to see her jumping up and down. Now my nephews do it with me! It is such a fun way to bond!

  10. I’ve only tried working out once with my youngest, it’s awesome and it was all about yoga. I think these are great tips though, it’s always nice to spend time with your child while also being active!

  11. I don’t have kids but I think this idea is a win-win. You are both physically active which is totally important. I think it’s a must to maintain a healthy lifestyle as well. These are very good tips.

  12. It’s great that while exercising with your kids, you incorporate teaching good sportsmanship. Being a good sport is especially important for young kids to grow up to be better adults.

  13. These are great tips for getting the kids moving! I always try and do physical activities when I look after my nieces and nephews – get outside and play on the playground, ride bikes etc. It’s important to keep moving

  14. It’s good to show kids the importance of exercise and health for our bodies. I try to work out as much as I can when I have time.

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