Challenge: Recess at Home
One way to encourage physical activity at home is to limit the number of hours children play video games, use a computer, view videos, and watch television. Rather than spending time sitting down with screen time, parents should encourage 60 minutes of “recess at home” when their children get home from school or before dinner time. Parents can play with children outdoor games such as “Red Light, Green Light;” “Horse;” or “Duck, Duck, Goose.”
Here are more great ideas to get your family moving more!
- Shoot hoops
- Play catch
- Try roller blading
- Try a new park in your area
- Sign up for a run/walk promoting health
- Plan vacations that involve walking, biking, swimming, or paddling
- Plant a garden
- Create a reward system
- Limit television and computer time to 2 hours per day
- Designate one or two days a month as No-TV days
- Take a picnic
- Take the family bowling, golfing, swimming, etc.
- Go for family walks or bike rides
- Include children in household activities like dog-walking, car-washing, or lawn-mowing.
- Take the TV out of your child’s bedroom.
- If you do watch TV, stretch, do yoga, or even lift weights at the same time.
- Have a contest with your children. Who can do the most push-ups or jumping jacks during a commercial break?
- Pop in your favorite aerobics exercise tape or DVD to get your heart pumping!
- Celebrate a birthday or anniversary with something active—a hike, a volleyball game, a FrisbeeTM match.
- Play outside for 60 minutes every day.
- Pick up the pace when walking.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator at malls. Jog up the stairs rather than walk.
Children should be active at home and have choices to let them discover their talents and interests. Some children enjoy team sports, while others prefer individual activities that allow them to move and exercise in a noncompetitive way. Kids need your support and role modeling to be active 60 minutes a day so they grow up to be healthy adults.
