So you pack your child off to school each day, they spend hours being stimulated by a blend of learning and socialising and then they enjoy a relaxing evening at home. So why aren’t they tired at bedtime?
It could be that your little one isn’t getting enough exercise.
The relationship between sleep and exercise has been discussed for many years and it’s conclusive that getting plenty of physical activity can help to alleviate sleep-related problems.
The formula is simple – the more a child is active during the day, the better sleep they are likely to get during the night. This doesn’t just mean being able to fall asleep more quickly, but it means staying asleep for longer and waking less frequently during the night. Making sure your child gets enough physical activity can also help to reduce daytime tiredness.
How Much Is Enough?
Children should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This could mean playing in the park, attending a gym class or being part of an organised sport. The type of activity doesn’t matter, as long as your child is active! The problem is, in a world full of screens and digital devices, it can be difficult to get your children moving!
Here are our top tips on getting your kids up and about (and sleeping all night!):
Our Top Exercise Tips:
1: Be a Positive Role Model
Your children notice your habits – good and bad. If your kids see you being regularly physically active, they are much more likely to be active and stay active.
2: Walk Instead of Drive
If you can, walk your kids to school instead of jumping in the car. Ride your bikes to visit friends and use the stairs instead of taking the lifts in public places. Using exercise for transportation can make up a big chunk of your children’s 60-minute daily exercise (and they won’t even feel like they’re exercising!).
3: Get Everyone Involved
One of the most successful ways to change your kid’s exercise habits is to get the whole household involved. Sign up to an after-school martial arts class, join a swimming club or plan an outdoor family adventure. Kids like to have fun, so the more involved you are, the more involved they are likely to be.
4: Set Competitions
Do your kids think they can out-do Dad in a push up contest or run faster than Mum in a sprinting race? Make exercise contests between you and the kids and give the winner a prize. You can use technology such as a pedometer to track your results and progress.
5: Include Kids in Household Chores
There are a lots of household chores, such as like gardening or hoovering, that provide great opportunities to sneak in a little daily physical activity.
We hope this blog gives you some good ideas on how to get your kids moving more and sleeping more!
We will be back soon with more sleep advice so keep checking our blog for regular updates!
