Encourage Your Kids to Get Active

Do you love to exercise or would you rather do anything else than work out? No matter what your attitude toward fitness is, it's important to make sure that you're encouraging your kids to exercise and play. Here are eight strategies for helping your children get fit.

*Key in to Your Kids' Interests

Consider what type of physical activity your child would like. Is she always bouncing on the bed and climbing over the couch? Then maybe gymnastics would fit the bill. Does he like to pretend he's a ninja or Power Ranger? Then perhaps he'd enjoy karate. Don't assume that they'll like the same activities you do. Ask them what they'd like to try!

*Be Supportive of Your Kids, No Matter What Their Abilities Are

Maybe your children will never be superstar athletes. That's OK. The important thing is that they enjoy the activity so they establish a lifelong exercise habit, not that they are the best athletes in the town. Reward them for participating in sports or activities, not just winning.

*Help Kids With Basic Sports Skills

Do your children know how to catch, throw and kick a ball? Make sure you help both boys and girls develop fundamentals. That way they'll be less likely to feel intimidated playing sports.

*Share Your Fitness Interests With Kids

Children often like to imitate their parents. If you love dancing, teach your sons and daughters to dance. If running is your passion, bring your kids along to 5ks or 10ks with you. See if they'd like to run a children's race.

*Invent Fitness Games With Your Kids

For a fun change of pace or if your kids don't like standard fitness activities or sports, why not create your own games? You can have each child contribute a rule or two to the games. For example, maybe you'd create a game called "Halloween Run" in which you run or walk around the backyard until someone calls "Halloween." Then you pretend to be your favorite monsters for 30 seconds. Then you return to running or walking.

*Plan Active Birthday Parties

Instead of throwing a party that focuses solely on cake and ice cream, design one with several active games that involve ALL the kids. Or, build a party around an activity such as soccer, inline skating or baseball. Another idea is to see if your gym conducts active fitness parties for kids.

*Set Aside Time for Family Fitness

Don't expect that kids will automatically exercise on their own. Block time after work or on the weekends. Commit to get fit!

*Be a Good Fitness Role Model

It's not enough to just TELL kids they need to exercise. You need to work out, too. Even if you don't enjoy exercising, it's important for you to be a good exercise role model to show that exercise is a fun, worthwhile habit to adopt.