Tips for helping your child stick to an exercise program.

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The only thing harder than getting your child to start an exercise regimen? Getting them to stick to it! Here are some tips to help.



1. Set up an exercise schedule.



These days, kids are used to being tightly scheduled. A typical child's schedule includes music lessons, religous lessons, tutors, and homework. Why not squeeze some exercise in there? For example:



Mon: school, piano lesson, 45 minutes exercise, dinner, homework

Tues: school, religous school, dinner, homework

Wed: school, free time for playdate, 45 minutes exercise, homework

Thurs: school, religous school, dinner, homework

Fri: school, tutor, 45 minutes exercise, dinner, homework

Sat: tennis lesson

Sun: day off from schedule!



Make sure the exercise is as an important part of the schedule as school and lessons.

2. Be flexible...

It's Friday afternoon and your daughter really wants to have a sleepover with her friend. You know that she won't exercise if you let her. What do you do? Let her have the sleepover and reschedule the exercise session. Tell her, "You can have the sleepover today but we will make up the exercise session on Sunday." That way you allow her to have her fun without getting her weekly exercise off track.

3. Make it fun!

Exercise does not have to be a chore. Pick activities that your child truly enjoys. Tennis, jumping rope and bouncing on a trampoline can all be great forms of exercise. Wii Fit is another great exercise option. Try to think outside the treadmill!

4. Exercise with friends.

Everything is more fun when done with a friend. Have your child pick an exercise buddy and let them get fit together. They can keep each other on track while making the experience more enjoyable.

5. Buy a few exercise accessories.

You don't need to break the bank to have some workout equipment at home. Consider a rope ladder that you lie on the floor and do running drills on. A small, individual-sized trampouline is also quite inexpensive. You may also invest in a step for step aerobics. Consider buying your child some new exercise clothes so they feel excited to put them on and get moving!

6. Don't start by running a marathon.

The easiest way to get a child to hate exercise is to push them too quickly. Take it slowly and build up. Remember, if your child doesn't enjoy the exercise they will soon give it up.

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