Kids this age need to get involved in physical activity to build strength, coordination, and confidence. Eventually, as they get into fitness, it allows them to lay the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
However, a study revealed that only less than 10% of teens get an adequate amount of exercise they need daily.
A fitness expert from Vivotion claimed that a workout doesn’t always have to be extremely difficult. In line with this, we have compiled a few tips and some workout ideas ideal for your kids to get moving.
Furthermore, you might as well take a thorough view of some of the most recommended fitness trackers and find out what’s the best bit not only for your kids but also for you!
Helpful Tips to Get Kids Moving
Move More All the Time
Allowing your little ones to ride their bike or play basketball on the weekends with their friends is okay but be mindful that these kinds of activities aren’t enough.
It’s recommended for youngsters to exercise with a mix of cardio and strength training for at least five days a week. Hence, working out must be a part of their daily routine.
Move more all the time. Advise them to walk around the house or even perform lunges during TV commercials. They may also take a few minutes to move in the morning or after school. It all adds up.
Keep Fit With Friends
Make your child’s friends be part of their fitness journey as this will be a great instrument to turn exercise into something they can enjoy!
Invite them along for a hike or even just a walk around the park. If you feel a little bit extra, might as well invite them to play some sport or go to the gym.
Give Them Rewards!
Set a gold at the beginning of the week for your kids. Challenge them by adding 500 more steps every day after school or with a 10-minute yoga before they go to bed every night. A 5-minute meditation sounds good, too!
When they reach their goal, reward them. Rewards can help them to get motivated to work hard and earn it!
Five Great Exercises to Keep Them Fit
- High-Intensity Cardio
This includes basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, running, cycling, swimming, to name a few. Do this level of activity for at least three times a week.
- Strength Training
This involves unstructured activities like climbing trees and structured exercises like push-ups, squats, crunches, using weights and machines and much more.
Try adding strength training on your routine for at least 2 to 3 days a week, and rest in between.
- Regular Activity
Just do something your kids can do every day like playing Nintendo Switch or Just Dance Revolution. Take more walks or simply toss a ball in the backyard will do.
- Yoga
Now it’s time for your teens to strengthen their mind, body and soul through Yoga! This ancient practice can help in improving their concentration, breathing, and cognitive function as well as managing stress and diet.
You might as well join them to reap these amazing benefits together!
- Pilates
Adding Pilates on their regular routine will help your kids to elevate their fitness level, reduce weight, improve their confidence, enhance their sports performance, and of course, enhance their body posture.
The Best Fitness Trackers for Kids in 2019
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2
The Vivofit Jr. 2 is Garmin’s second generation in kid’s fitness trackers. It features not only counting your kid’s steps but also their active minutes or total moving time. It also monitors sleep as well.
This tracker also comes with various themes such as Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars, including unique themed band and watch face. Bonus: when paired with a phone, kids can play a themed adventure app linked to a Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars theme.
Isn’t that great? Your kids will surely love this kind of fitness tracker!
This watch also features:
- Waterproof
- Made with durable rubber
- Comes with two sizes: a stretchy rubber band for little kids and a classic one for older children
- Can track steps as a family (with the phone app)
- Parents can use the app to set and track chores
By setting up chores reminders such as getting dressed in the morning or brushing teeth, your kids can earn a coin for every chore completed. Coins can be redeemed for rewards of your choice!
Fitbit Ace 2
Designed specifically for kids, the Fitbit Ace 2 is durable, waterproof, and it comes with fun colours!
The Ace 2 tracks steps and total active minutes, including an hour active minute goal. It also motivates to get your kids moving and stay active through the built-in badges and fun characters as incentives.
Bedtime reminders can also be set to keep your child on a schedule. It monitors sleep patterns and nocturnal activity to boot.
This watch is:
- Easy to use
- It syncs wirelessly to the phone
- It has two views: a parental view and kids view
- It lasts for five days (then requires charging)
Leapfrog Leapband
The Leapfrog Leapband is an activity tracker that is more game-oriented than the Vivofit Jr. 2 or Fitbit Ace 2. Although it’s cheaper than the most fitness trackers, this one features a colourful and attractive design, keeping the kids motivated to stay active.
This fitness watch helps in getting kids moving by setting up a list of physical challenges instead of tracking steps.
Features to look out for:
Parents have full control over when specific modes are activated:
- Move Mode – this will allow the watch to track motion. And when your kid isn’t interacting with its LeapBand, the screen will automatically return to “Move Mode”.
- Player Mode – provides children with access to their games and challenges.
- Quiet Time Mode – on the other hand, this banishes the sound and gameplay that way children can sleep or have some quiet time.
Nabi Compete
This fitness tracker allows kids to see how many steps they’ve been taken. The exciting part? It displays the number of steps in different, fun ways!
For instance, they can see how far their steps take them compared to the length of the Brooklyn Bridge. Not only that, but Nabi also includes a calorie comparison to different foods that your kids enjoy, allowing them to understand the caloric density of specific foods. With that, this will encourage them to eat healthier.
The Nabi trackers come in different colours and designs, including Barbie and Hot-wheels.
Kurio Watch 2.0
Unlike the other fitness trackers, the Kurio Watch is more likely a kid’s smartwatch as it is an activity tracker. Thus, this watch can take pictures and videos.
In addition, they can be customized with fun filters. With its built-in Bluetooth connectivity, it allows parents with Android devices to message their children and share photos and other media as well.
You can find its fitness feature in the Sports Challenge games category—where children can choose three different kinds of games, including dancing game.
Each watch comes with two bands: one standard band and a colour-changing wristband, which changes with your kid’s body temperature.
Author Bio :
Isabel Speckman is a North Carolina-based freelance writer and work-from-home mother of three. In her 10 years as a professional writer, she’s worked in proposal management, grant writing, and content creation. Her writing skills may be confirmed independently on vivotion.com. Personally, she’s passionate about teaching her family how to stay safe, secure and action-ready in the event of a disaster or emergency
