Sports are a great way to keep kids active, but not all kids enjoy playing them. When kids avoid sports, parents look for other ways their children can continue to be healthy and active. How can you get your kids moving around when they aren’t part of a sports team?
Encourage lifelong activities.
Choose activities that have the potential for lifelong enjoyment, such as biking, swimming, walking and hiking. These activities are great because while they can be done individually, for a lifetime, they also can be enjoyed as a family. Encourage everyone to go on a walk or bike ride together, hike in a local park or spend the day at the pool. Get a step counter for each family member and create a friendly competition to see who can get the most steps.
Go outside.
Simply getting your kids outside can be a great way to sneak in exercise. “Being active is really important to me as a mom.” says Stephanie Loux, mom of three. “I encourage them to play outside for at least 30 minutes a day. They may protest at first but eventually they are having so much fun, they don’t want to come in.” Visit a local park, encourage them to climb trees, swing or play tag. Have your children go on a treasure hunt in the backyard and collect items that interest them like sticks, rocks, flowers or leaves. Catching fireflies in the summer, building a snowman in the winter or raking leaves in the fall all help kids to be active while not playing a sport.
Individualize.
“I thought I hated sports, but really it was the feeling of letting the team down,” says Jane Hammond, mom of three from Linwood, KS. “Once I discovered things like ice skating and skiing, I loved it. I learned to compete against myself.” Just because your child does not enjoy team sports does not mean she may not enjoy an individual sport. Gymnastics, swimming, track and field, wrestling, diving, archery, golf, or weight-lifting are all good examples of individual sports where children compete against themselves.
Limit screen time.
When screen time is allowed, try to encourage kids to move while they are watching television. If a song comes on, get up and dance or march along. If they are playing video games, encourage ones that involve movement. If children are sedentary while they’re enjoying screen time, ask them to complete some sort of activity like chores or outdoor play before they turn the television or tablet on.
Set an example.
Children learn by example. If the parent has a low activity level, the child will likely see exercise as a low priority. Lead by example and get moving. Begin an exercise routine or a hobby like gardening that includes movement and invite your child to join you. Make the most of your time together by learning new skills and making healthy habits together.
Dance and act.
Turn on the music and have a family dance party. There is nothing like a great song to get a body moving. Dancing is fun and it’s great exercise too. Some children may also enjoy trying dance classes, baton twirling or cheerleading. All of these are great sources of exercise. If your children are drawn to music and theater, get them involved in a theater production in school or your community.
Find a new hobby.
Encourage your child to find a hobby that encourages movement and activity, such as skateboarding, fishing, bowling and woodworking. If kids are doing something they enjoy, they won’t even notice they are also exercising.
Play.
Leisure sports that have less pressure to perform at a higher level can be more fun for kids who don’t care for competitive team sports. Encouraging kids to play gets them active. Playing Frisbee or Frisbee golf, tag, catch, shooting hoops, and duck, duck, goose all require kids to run around. Youngsters will be having so much fun during the game, they won’t notice they are getting a workout in too.
Work on chores.
Chores are a great way to get kids active and teach them the value of hard work at the same time. Ask your children to clean their rooms, vacuum, mow the lawn or sweep. Consider paying them an allowance for more motivation.
Try alternative extracurricular activities.
Some extracurricular activities do not involve sports but still offer all the benefits and lessons team sports teach, such as Scouting, 4-H, robotics and band. “Scouting provides opportunities for learning how to work cooperatively with fellow Scouts. Teamwork is applied through projects and activities,” says Bridget Estelle, Olathe mom of four. “We love 4-H for learning leadership, how to work with a team and many other skills,” says Krystal Laws, Olathe mom of eight. “Our club even does a health and wellness project which includes fun, active things we can do together.”
Sports have many benefits, but they are not for everyone. Kids who do not enjoy sports don’t have to be less active. With these tips, they’ll enjoy an active lifestyle they can maintain for a lifetime.
Kids Activities That Aren’t Sports
- Dramatic art such as theater or dance
- Scouting or other civic organizations, groups such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or 4-H
- Religious groups like Awana or youth group
- Visual art such as drawing, painting or sculpting
- Music—vocal or instrumental
- Student government or leadership
- Creative hobbies such as sewing or woodworking
- Clubs—foreign languages, books, robotics, science, math or chess. Find an interest and see whether there is a club at your school or start one of your own.
- Alternative sports such as biking, dancing, bowling, cheerleading, martial arts, golf, skateboarding or skiing
- Volunteering—dog walking, serving food at a shelter or shelving books at the library
Sarah Lyons is a part-time freelance writer and full-time mom. She lives in Olathe with her family.