Physical activities kids can engage with each day

Modern children are not getting enough daily physical activity. So says a 2024 report from the Physical Activity Alliance, a coalition that works to promote regular participation in physical activity. Researchers behind the report utilized data from the National Survey of Children’s Health and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, which showed that just 20% of children between ages 6 and 17 meet the daily physical activity minimum of 60 minutes recommended by the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

That four in five children are not getting enough physical activity each day is a red flag for parents. A 2023 study published in the journal Children noted that children who engage in sedentary behaviors are at increased risk for an assortment of negative health outcomes that include obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and poor mental health.

Parents can help kids reduce their risk by encouraging daily physical activity, which can be incorporated into youngsters’ lives in various ways.

• Walking – Walking is an accessible physical activity that children can embrace throughout the day. In lieu of driving to the bus stop each morning, parents can walk their children there and even arrive a little early so kids get a chance to run around with their friends before the bus arrives. Parents also can incorporate walks into their nightly routines by taking a post-dinner stroll around the neighborhood.
• Dancing – Dancing is another great physical activity that children, especially those in elementary school, tend to love. The National Institutes of Health note that dancing can improve mood, promote hearth health, help to build strong muscles and bones and create better balance and coordination, among other benefits. Parents concerned that kids aren’t getting enough physical activity can host routine dance parties at home to get kids off the couch and up and moving. Let kids choose the music so they’re more enthusiastic about cutting a rug.
• Outdoor activities – Organized sports is not the only way for kids to be physically active. Kids who don’t enjoy sports can still get lots of exercise each day. Parents can introduce youngsters to outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking and cycling to ensure they aren’t spending all of their free time sitting around. In wintertime, if the air outside is too chilly, consider taking youngsters to a local indoor swim club or an indoor rock climbing facility, many of which have programs for climbers as young as 5.

Many modern kids aren’t getting enough physical activity each day. Parents can remedy that by incorporating any number of fun physical activities into kids’ daily routines.