Fun ways to be active with your kids

Research shows that exercise not only improves your child’s current health, but also sets them up for better health in adulthood. Here, the team from Bupa outlines a few easy ways to get the young ones moving by joining in yourself.

How active should kids and adults be?

You might find there are days when your child doesn’t want to get off the sofa, or is glued to their favourite TV programme, video game or toy. And of course, that’s OK sometimes – and very normal! At the same time, they should ideally be doing a fair amount of physical activity most days too. Many experts recommend an hour a day for children over five, and three hours or more of active play a day for toddlers. You also need a good amount of physical activity as an adult – around two and a half hours of “moderate to intense” exercise spread across each week. That means exercise that gets you a bit sweaty or breathless and raises your heart rate.

Since everyone in your family will benefit from staying active, why not do it together? Here are five suggestions for how you could do just that.

#1 Make it part of your routine

Being active comes easily if it’s part of your daily lives. Could you walk or cycle part of the school run together, for instance? Cycling helps to improve children’s balance, movement and confidence. It could also be about building exercise into your weekend routine. For example, try to swim together on weekends. Swimming helps improve heart, lung and muscle health for adults and children alike. And, of course, the pool doesn’t always need to feel like an exercise session – even just playing around with inflatables can contribute.

#2 Take your child’s lead

See what your child enjoys and do it together. That could mean anything from walking the dog, having a scavenger hunt, hiking, playing with a ball in the park, flying a kite or trampolining to joining fun runs. Just like you, your children are more likely to want to keep up forms of activity that make them feel excited.

#3 Mix indoor and outdoor activities

Pool play is fun throughout the day in Singapore, but if you’re visiting a nature area or playing an outdoor sport, it’s better to stick to the early mornings or late afternoons, if possible. When the heat gets too much, there are plenty of indoor activities to enjoy on the island, from ice rinks to escape rooms, laser tag, mini golf, bowling and more.

#4 Try group activities

Does your child have the opportunity to run or swim with other kids at school or with a club? They might also enjoy a dance class or playing netball, football or rugby. While your kids are doing these group activities, you can use this time to do your own favourite exercise – perhaps you could join a group too.

#5 Focus on muscles and bones

Many traditional childhood games are great for building muscle and bone strength. It could be climbing a tree (with adult supervision), playing on swings, skipping or playing hopscotch. Gymnastics and dancing are good muscle and bone builders, as is touch football. As an adult, keeping your muscles and bones strong is also important as you age – so why not try these things together!

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Disclaimer: This article was designed and produced by Bupa Global by searching internal and external data and information for information provision and reference purposes only. Any views or information mentioned and set out in this article/webpage are based on general situations. Readers should not regard them as medical advices or medical recommendations. Before making any decisions about the theme of this article, you are recommended to seek independent advice from suitable professionals (doctors, nutritionists, etc.). It’s clearly stated that Bupa Global will not bear any responsibilities for others’ usage or interpretation of the information listed in this article. When preparing and/or updating this article, Bupa Global endeavours to ensure that the content is accurate, complete and updated but will not bear any responsibilities nor make any warranty or guarantee for the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of the information or for any claims and/or losses caused thereby.

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This article first appeared in the November 2019 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!