Is Running a Safe Kids Exercise

Parents and medical experts can all agree on one thing -an active kid is healthier than a non-active kid.  However just what is a safe kids exercise?    It’s harder and harder these days for kids to get enough exercise, between the cutbacks in physical education, busy schedules and the temptations of the internet and TV.   For some kids, exercise is easily obtained by playing an organized sport, but not every kid of family has the skills, temperament or money to be a team player. However this doesn’t mean that you can’t promote kids fitness at home through the simple exercise of running.

But there is one thing that can be great for both parents and kids -  running.  However, running as a kids fitness exercise has both risks and benefits.

The Risks of Running as Kids Fitness Exercise

Like with any exercise your kids participate in, running should be supervised.  If you’re not a runner yourself, you may want to take the sport up with your kids and start to do it together.  This is an excellent way to promote health and bonding.   And you can supervise your child’s running to insure she isn’t overdoing it with running and hurting themselves.

One of the first things to teach your kids -  stretch first.  Once they have properly stretched, pace their run with a warm-up period, a running period and a cool-down period.  Work on their distances starting slow and short and working up to longer and longer periods.

And as always, don’t forget consulting with your doctor before staring any kids fitness exercise to ensure that its appropriate for your child’s health condition.

Benefits of Running as a Kids Exercise

Fortunately, running is one of those things kids often do on their own, without much prompting from parents.   But playing chase is very different than taking up the sport of running as an organized fitness activity.  Just like an sport, you will need to invest in some equipment, like sneakers and weather- appropriate gear.  You may also want to work with your children and start tracking or timing their runs, or help them set mileage goals, as a way to keep them motivated.  This can be done with a simple stopwatch and a pedometer.

Running is also a great basis or training for other sports, or it can become a sport in and of itself, like track or cross-country.  Another way to keep things interesting is by running with your child in local 3k and 5k running races as ways to have fun and add some competition to the activity.

The great thing about running is that it’s a kids fitness activity that can be done almost anytime or anywhere, with a partner or without. It may be an activity you enjoy with your kids or it may be something they really take to alone, rejoicing in the strength and sense of achievement it gives them.