What Can You Do To Ensure Your Adolescents Are Active?

An active life is important at all ages. Of course, most kids don’t need to be convinced of this. Often the trickiest part can be getting them to stop and sit down for awhile. As they get into their teenage years they might become a little more interested in sitting in their rooms and avoiding sunlight. But even if they do, it’s usually not impossible to keep them active. It just takes more, and different, persuasion.

It’s important for us all to stay active, because health is a holistic thing. There are countless studies now indicating that the way you live has an impact not just on your physical health but also the mental side. While it simply isn’t true that depression or anxiety can be cured by going for a walk, a low mood can be elevated by endorphins. The more you get out and about, the less time you spend in your own head.

It is a good idea to keep your kids active and inspired, then. But it is also important to make sure that they are in general good health throughout childhood. Good mental health, and the impulse to stay active, is tied to how you feel physically. A seemingly isolated health issue can make exercise less pleasurable. It can also become less effective.

Keep Your Check-Ups Current

Regular Dental Checkups Are A Must

There are more than a few of us around who have a health issue that has been with us since childhood. It may not be that serious. Sometimes it will be to do with our sight. It could be a food intolerance or allergy. Much of the time, it can be to do with our teeth – and that can have a lot of knock-on effects on the rest of your health. Regular appointments with a good pediatric dentist can identify and cure these issues.

Educate Your Child About Health And Activity

As your child gets older, it’s inevitable that they are going to find hobbies that are more sedentary. This is always the case because as their brains develop, the stimuli they seek will be different. Social media and video games may make them keener to stay home rather than hike. They may need to hear more about some of the problems that are tied to a very sedentary lifestyle.

Be The Best Example

A preachy parent can often make their kids feel like they’re being lectured to. Inevitably, with a lot of children this leads to a form of rebellion in which the child wants to do the opposite of what they’re told. So instead it’s a good idea to show rather than tell. If you go for regular walks and eat well you’ll look better for longer. You’ll feel better too. So it is a good way of appealing to vanity – your kids want to look and feel good too.

Kids who stay active through adolescence will benefit on a number of fronts and will have a healthier life going forward. Address any issues head on, encourage them and show them the way and you’re giving them a gift that lasts forever.