Encouraging tips for parents

Children are less active than ever before. They are carried more (car seats, backpacks, highchairs, bouncers and supermarket trolleys), and technology is now a big part of their lives.

Sport New Zealand’s Active Movement programme has specific tips for parents on how to encourage kids to be more active.

AGE 0-5 YEARS:

Sport NZ says active movement is just as important for newborns and toddlers as it is for children of older ages.

Encouraging your under-5s to walk, crawl, run and jump will aid their development as well as their physical fitness and confidence as they grow up. It will also allow them to get used to moving, which ultimately makes them safer as they figure the world out through such young eyes.

■ Walk to the park or shops (instead of pushchair/car)

■ Go outside to play

■ Spend time lying and crawling on the floor

■ Walk along the cracks on the footpath

■ Collect twigs or leaves

■ Walk along and balance on walls

Remember to keep an eye on children while they are being active to ensure they are safe. Limit access to technology such as television and electronic devices at such an early age.

AGE 5-12 YEARS:

Sport NZ’s Kiwidex manual says allowing and encouraging children to be active at as early an age as is possible can help to build their confidence, competence and desire for more physical activity.

There are various ways to facilitate kids being active through sport, games, general outdoor activities and many more.

■ Participation for all

■ Regular, vigorous activity

■ A variety of activities

■ Challenge suited to stage of development

■ Non-threatening approach

■ Friendly competition

■ Structured programme

■ Simplicity of delivery

■ Fun and enjoyment

■ Spontaneity, creativity and experimentation

It’s important at this age to plan for regular daily physical activity appropriate to the children involved that works within available facilities, schedules and preferences of the child.

Opportunities in daily life to incorporate exercise include between school lessons, before and after school and break times, as a ‘‘snacktivity’’ when energy levels are low, and extracurricular activities that your child may be interested in outside of school.

AGES 12 AND ABOVE (TEENS): Sport Canterbury’s new Move it O¯ tautahi programme is aimed at getting teenagers back into sport.

Geni Tuilagi works closely with teenagers from various schools on how to get them more involved with sport. In her experience, the 13-year-old mark is when there are large drop-offs in sport participation.

Here are some tips from Tuilagi on how to encourage teens to become more involved in sport.

■ Expose your teenager to a range of sports and exercises so they have a broad selection of options.

■ If they’re just wanting to participate, focus on that. A big part of secondary school sport is

focused on the competitive side, so find an environment or sport that is less about winning and more about being involved.

■ Give your teenager the freedom to decide what they want to do.

■ It doesn’t have to be a traditional sport; the point is to get them moving. Mountain biking, swimming and so on are great even though they aren’t considered traditional Kiwi sports.

■ It doesn’t even have to be a sport – the point is to get them active.

Aside from improving their physical fitness, getting teenagers to become more active also has benefits for their general wellbeing, too.

Tuilagi says social media can have a huge impact on the wellbeing of teenagers through the experience of cyberbullying.

Sport can be the vehicle to get vulnerable youth through these kinds of things, she said.