Let's Go!: Importance of Children's Activity and Family Participation.

Let's Go!

The Importance of Children’s Activity and Participation of Families in Physical Activity

By Charity Bryan, PhD, and Kristen Morgan, PhD (Southeastern Louisiana University)

As the new year begins, many people develop resolutions and goals related to working out, eating healthy foods, and being "beach ready" by spring break.

Regular physical activity is essential for children and adults to achieve health benefits such as improved cardiovascular fitness, stronger bones, decreased disease risk, maintenance of a healthy weight, better concentration, improved mood, increased self-esteem, and more. Unfortunately, Louisiana often fares poorly in health behaviors for both children and adults. Taking control of your health and wellbeing can seem daunting, but small steps make a difference and add up over time.

When you take small steps to improve, establishing long-lasting behavior change and staying motivated is easier. Try these effective strategies to support your physical activity in 2024:

Activity with Friends and Family: Physical activity provides an opportunity for friends and families to bond and have fun. The top two reasons children want to participate in physical activities are to have fun and to be with friends. Fun, spending time with friends, setting family goals and rewards, and mutual support are all motivators for physical activity. Success can be measured in short-term goals, like walking 10,000 steps a day or increasing daily steps by 10%, and celebrating long-term achievements over time, such as a family walking a total of 50,000 steps in a week.

Autonomy in Activity: Children and adults are motivated when they have autonomy. If children feel forced to participate or lack choice, they may lose interest. Parents need to encourage their children to persevere and “stick with it” without being overbearing. It's important for everyone in the family to do something they enjoy. For instance, while children may prefer bike riding, parents might enjoy rollerblading, walking the dog, or jogging alongside them.

Make Activity Fun: Games like pickleball, backyard badminton, yoga, martial arts, skating or skateboarding, and netball are fun for many children and adults. They expose children to various physical activities, helping them find something enjoyable. Even short bursts of activity are beneficial, helping to overcome the primary barrier to physical activity: lack of time.

As you consider your New Year's resolutions, remember that physical activity's benefits extend beyond the physical. Healthy children perform better in school, exhibit greater behavioral control, and have a lower incidence of depression. Active children and families are beneficial for everyone, so consider making a fun, active year one of your goals for 2024!