This post concludes our series of activities with kids by SPARC.

What are some of the important things for parents to know about getting children active?
Getting children active is incredibly important for brain development. Activity is not only beneficial physically for children, but is also helps them to develop intellectually, emotionally and socially. For children, getting active helps them to become healthy, happy and confident people.

Our modern lifestyle means we are less likely to be active. For example children are carried more often and spend much more time in cars, backpacks, pushchairs and supermarket trolleys. So we need to encourage our children to be more active – right from the start.

Getting your child active doesn't need to be expensive – you can get them active by doing everyday activities and using everyday things. For example get back to basics – play games with the kids in the backyard, climb trees, kick balls, go for walks. Anything and everything that gets you out there and active.

It's important to remember no one likes chores, so getting active has to be fun for children to learn the right skills as well as continue on into adulthood enjoying physical activity and sport.

What things can you do as a parent to encourage your children to be more active?
Try doing things with your children as a family. For example have a family game of backyard cricket, go for a walk together or kick a ball around in the park. Or get your children involved in everyday activities like hanging out the washing, gardening or preparing meals. All of these activities help children develop skills essential for movement and activity – such as fine motor skills, locomotor skills and fundamental movement skills.

Don't forget to give your children lots of praise and encouragement. Keep it positive and show enthusiasm when participating in activity with your children.

Remember that children develop skills at their own pace, so don’t expect too much from them or push them too hard.

Use your imagination and let your children use theirs too. It’s a great way of making things more exciting and can turn a mundane activity into an interesting one.

What do Active Movement Advisors do?
An Active Movement Advisor educates parents and caregivers, early childhood educators and organisations such as Plunket, Barnardos, and the National Heart Foundation who provide Active Movement activities and experiences for children right from birth to five years.

They work to increase awareness of the importance and benefits of movement in the early years and demonstrate how easily and inexpensively physical activity can be incorporated into your child’s daily life as well as your own.

Active Movement Advisors are located at Regional Sports Trusts throughout New Zealand. Check out www.sparc.org.nz for contact details of the Regional Sports Trust in your area.

Where can I get more information about getting my children active?
There's lots of information and ideas for getting active on SPARC's website at www.sparc.org.nz.

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