Kids fitness is not as easy as it once was. While parents may be concerned about losing weight and making it to the gym, children are allowed to sit for hours on end in school and playing video games. With the rise in technology and a decrease in outdoor activities, children can become lazy, unhealthy and often overweight from a young age. In Osprey Leisure Centre we realise the importance of children’s fitness and work with your family to create a plan you can stick to. Here are some of our top tips to improve children’s health.
Walk to school
One of the simplest ways to encourage activity in young people is to encourage them to walk to and from school. If you take the trip together you can use the time to bond and discuss how school is going and any issues they may be facing. If not, try to pair your children with friends or neighbours to encourage each other. It may not always be possible for families who live a long distance from the school, but you can always park the car a little further away or walk a couple more minutes to the next bus stop.
Listen to your children
We all know how strong minded children can be. If they don’t like a certain food or activity they simply won’t do it! Ask your children what their favourite kind of exercise is and incorporate that into your routine. It may be something easy like running, skipping or walking or something more complex like rock climbing or zip-lining but there’s always a way to make it work. You should also encourage them to try new things like a local sports team or an activity they have never tried before. You might spark a new interest they never knew they had.
Encourage joining a team
It has been proven that we are less likely to drop out of an activity if we have encouragement from our peers. Joining an active club or team has a huge impact on children’s bodies and minds. Children who join teams or take part in sports not only have healthier bones and muscles, stronger hearts and better moods, they also socialise better, have higher self-esteem and improved cooperation skills. It doesn’t matter if it’s football, rugby or running, teams have a way of encouraging your little one to take part and stay active for at least a couple of hours a week.
Swimming
One of the most exciting and beneficial ways for your whole family to exercise is to learn to swim. It’s the kind of activity that you can enjoy whether you are 8 or 80 and it’s equally as beneficial to both. Swimming provides a multitude of physical and mental benefits including better heart function, mobility, strength and muscle tone. At Osprey Leisure club we have a state of the art 20 metre deck level swimming pool which is ideal for swimming laps or relaxing with the family. We also offer kids swimming lessons and swim camps for your aspiring Michael Phelps.
Family gym membership
If you’re looking for an easy way to look after your own and your children's health in Naas, why not sign up for our family gym membership this year. Our family pass, which is valid for a year, allows two adults and two children under 15 unrestricted membership at Osprey Leisure Club. You’ll also enjoy access to our hydrotherapy pool, unlimited free classes and 20% off full price treatments at Osprey Spa.
If you’d like to learn more about our family gym membership or would like to avail of children’s swimming lessons in Naas, contact our experienced team today to learn more.