Should you force kids to be active?

zjpq

One of mine loves playing outside and is very active but is also OBSESSED with electronics and would sit on them for the rest of his life if we let him. So yes, we do limit him and send him outside and force him to do other stuff

RoxieDawn

We MUST lead by example. If we are not leading very well in this department then we should nudge them a little to start exploring. If we don't take the TV, video games away at some point we are simply encouraging them to stay in involved with this one activity, or what ever sedentary activities they may be involved with.

Children need our guidance, the world is open to all possibilities, if we don't guide them, they will never know how to explore and venture out to determine what they like and don't like particularly as far as activities, exercise, etc.. goes.. My kids are grown, but once upon a time, I saw parents rely too much on teachers and school PE coaches, and did not put enough of their parenting into their kids in this area.

Niki_Fitz

I don't think of it as forcing anything. It's structuring our kids' lives so they can thrive, giving them as much choice as possible in the process.

My daughter wanted to quit soccer so I said, fine, but you have to play a sport or have some structured physical activity. She was too lazy to try something new so she stuck with soccer.

My parents let me quit sports in high school and I wish they hadn't. They didn't know how to help me make good choices or add any structure at all and those years were a struggle.

JimmyTooStrong