How Can We Help Children and Adolescents Get Enough Physical Activity?
Many children and adolescents are naturally physically active, and they need opportunities to be active and to learn skills. They benefit from encouragement from parents and other adults. Adults can promote age-appropriate activity in youth through these steps: • Provide time for both structured and unstructured physical activity during school and outside of school. Children need time for active play. Through recess, physical activity breaks, physical education classes, after-school programs, and active time with family and friends, youth can learn about physical activity and spend time doing it. • Provide children and adolescents with positive feedback and good role models. It has been said that if you do not practice what you teach, you are teaching something else. Parents and teachers should model and encourage an active lifestyle for children. Praise, rewards, and encouragement help children to be active. Using physical activity as punishment does not help children to be active. •
