According to Lynn Petruskavich, in charge of teaching fitness trainers at a YMCA, making fitness a family affair is a healthy idea in many different ways. "It increases energy levels, so parents can keep up with their kids," she said, "and, at the same time, it teaches children the value of fitness."
To her, teaching children the benefits of fitness is "critical." And, the earlier you start, the better. "Like any habit, if it starts early, it becomes part of your regular routine," she said. If your children learn to be active just as they learn to brush their teeth every morning, they'll make fitness a lifelong pursuit.
Today, family activities abound. Fitness programs have been extended to include all ages and members of the family.
The general idea is to make exercise enjoyable and not enforced. For this reason, Petruskavich also recommends you don't over-schedule your children's sports activities. "When it's too programmed, it becomes less or no fun," she said. Her suggestion: Pick two sports, and consider changing one of them every season. "This will give them a broader scope and help them find their own niche," she explained.
It's also important to remember that fitness doesn't have to be organized. Everyday, ordinary activity is just as important. "No one says it has to be running on a treadmill; it's about having an active lifestyle," she said, noting that 60 percent of Canadians are inactive.
This is why she also suggests turning off the TV, shutting down the computer and getting the whole family out of the house at least one night a week. "Build in family time and go for a bike ride, a hike or even just a walk around the neighbourhood — anything that isn't programmed [or doesn't have] an expense involved." It's just one more way, she said, to teach your children that "health is not something that's a given; it's something you need to work at."
