Dear Greg,
What can I do to encourage my school-age son to play outdoors more often? Over this past school year, he’s spent so much time in front of the television and the computer screen that I’m actually beginning to worry about his health and physical fitness. With the summer months ahead, I’ve been dropping all kinds of hints about fresh air and sunshine and telling him how much fun I used to have out on the baseball field when I was his age. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to have made much of an impression so far. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer:
Interesting question. When your boy was a toddler, you probably felt like he was a perpetual-motion machine. Now that he’s older and his attention span has increased, he’s fallen prey to the lure of electronic media and the sedentary lifestyle they encourage. It’s an increasingly common problem. Nowadays, far too many of our young people are leaving childhood and adolescence overweight and underactive.
How can you counteract this trend? Basically in the same way that you promote any value you genuinely care about: by modeling it yourself, doing it with your child, and encouraging him to do it on his own.
If you believe in physical fitness, you’re probably already investing a fair amount of time in a regular exercise program. If so, keep it up. Never underestimate the power of setting a good example. If your son sees you making an effort in this area, he’ll begin to get the right idea.
Meanwhile, look for creative ways to work more physical activity into your family’s daily routine. As you do yard and garden work or other chores, involve your child as much as possible. If you’re out and about together, take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. If you live in an area where it’s possible, ask your son to run simple errands for you – down to the corner store, for instance – on foot or on his bike. When socializing with other families, consider options beyond merely talking and eating.
You can also make a point of setting aside time to do recreational activities together as a family. I grew up loving to play catch and shoot baskets, and those are things most kids enjoy, no matter what their skill level. Children rarely turn down an opportunity to play a physical game with one or both parents. Jogging, walking, hiking, playing tennis – they’re all great ways to stay in shape, too. If you go to the beach or park, bring along a ball or Frisbee as well as blankets and food. Plan vacations that include walking, swimming, and other physical pursuits.
Finally, you may want to consider signing your son up for a summer sports league. The YMCA, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and many city parks offer programs of this nature. Competitive sports offer lots of benefits to children. But make sure you take the time to find an activity suited to his particular interests and capabilities. It has to be something that he considers fun. Otherwise, he may end up hating it, and you will have lost an opportunity to provide him with the exercise he needs.
