Between school, television and homework, my six-year-old just doesn’t get enough outdoor activity. I’m working and there’s no one to pick and drop him to sports coaching classes. He spends free time on the internet. How do I ensure he gets enough physical activity? — D.K., Mumbai Browse the net and youtube for videos which invite kids to dance and/or exercise together. There are action songs which encourage children to participate. Child exercise videos can also help children to exercise together. Look out for interesting ones to get your child started. Buy a hula hoop, skipping rope and indoor equipment. Make the time to teach your child games and activities with these aids — the internet can help you find many. If sports coaching on weekdays won’t work, you could look out for weekend sports or dance classes. Once your child gets hooked, he can practice at home on weekdays with a little motivation. Set clear limits for TV/internet time, and ensure that your child respects them. Try to find family friends who can take him to the park once a week together with their kids, while you return the favour on weekends or whenever you find time. Are you curbing your child’s instincts? We might unconsciously be suppressing the natural urge of children to be active. Allow climbing, swinging and jumping, while supervising for safety and making it clear that some activities must not go unsupervised. Don’t say “Stop jumping. You’ll fall.” Or “Don’t run. Walk slowly.” Kids have to learn alertness and balance through trial and error. Jumping is great for exercise and balance. When space permits, let kids express their energy by running. It builds stamina. “Watch out. You might get hurt” is not good advice. Kids naturally try gym-style rolls and movements. Remember, they are naturally flexible and won’t sprain a limb as easily as an adult. They can instinctively figure out what they can do, and need to learn to take calculated risks. Also read: Adolescents need to be more physically active, says WHO
