Many think of  weight issues as a problem for adults, but according to the World Health Organization nearly one third of Canadians aged 5 to 17 are affected. And in our increasingly online world, it’s only becoming harder to get our kids moving, even in the summer.

Still, even though it might seem daunting at first, it’s actually as simple as 1, 2, 3!

1. Set Goals

Yogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.” That’s why it’s so important to set specific daily goals and carefully track the results. A good benchmark for kids is 60 minutes of exercise daily, which could include many fun activities like bike riding, skipping rope, jumping on a trampoline, or anything that engages the muscles and raises your child’s heart rate.

Any activity that involves relatively constant movement absolutely counts toward the 60-minute total. But remember: “daily” means all seven days of the week!

2. Make It FUN!

Some children take to organized sports right away, as if they were born to dribble a ball or snap a wrist shot. But not everyone enjoys that kind of exercise. If your child is more interested in hiking, kite flying, or just free play at the park, be just as supportive of that behavior as any soccer parent would be when cheering on a great goal or amazing pass.

Also consider lessons in swimming, tennis, golf, dance, or martial arts. A paper route is a great option for more monetarily-motivated munchkins. The point is, everyone can find something active they love to do. Your goal is to find this niche for your child to help ensure a lifetime of healthy activity.

3. Lead by Example

As everyone knows, it’s not enough to simply instruct your kids on the importance of daily exercise. Or anything else, really. You need to prove day-by-day that you truly believe what you say. Do this by also prioritizing regular activity for yourself.

The great news is there are endless possibilities for exercising with your kids, which offers a ton of great benefits. After all, the family that walks together talks together – much more than when they’re all staring at the TV, at least!

If you’d like assistance incorporating fitness into your family’s daily routine, consider booking a session with a Karp personal trainer today! 

Shaun Karp is a certified personal trainer in Vancouver, B.C. For more info call 604-420-7800 or visit KarpFitness.com. You can also find Karp on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.