How To Get Kids To Love Vigorous Physical Activity
4 Things That Will Get Children Up And Running
The other day I watched my 2 and 4-year-old daughters chasing birds down at a local playing field.
Dodging, weaving, changing pace, accelerating, decelerating, running up and down slopes, and across changing surfaces . . . laughing, completely absorbed, and not wanting to stop. It lasted for ages. There was no structure, formality or adult intervention. No instruction or correction. No waiting in lines. No off-task behaviour.
It was as good a vigorous “running session” that any coach, trainer or teacher could have dreamed of delivering to kids.
If that was what a youth sport practice session or fitness class always looked like, you would never have problem getting the kids there week-after-week.
So how can we re-produce this type of environment when it comes to adult-led physical activities for kids?
Four Elements That Engage
We should be very alert to what we can learn when we watch children really engaged by organically-occurring vigorous play.
I suspect that we will see:
1. Context
The physical activity will mean something to the kids. They will see a tangible reason behind it (even if we don’t!).
Implication for Adults
Provide a backdrop to activities that will resonate with the kids. The kids need a purpose to perform. Games, challenges, stories, imagination and imitation are all elements that can be woven into a session.
2. Action
All the kids have an active, significant role. No one is left out.
Implication for Adults
Minimise waiting, lines and lectures. Avoid elimination games (where kids “go out”).
3. Freedom
The kids have some influence over what the activity looks like. They are heard and their voice matters.
Implication for Adults
Look for ways in which the kids can influence the look and progress of a session. Actively encourage them to contribute and make decisions.
4. Play
There is lots of laughing and smiling and fun to be had.
Implication for Adults
Find out what “fun” means to the kids and inject it into activities. Closely study how kids react to what you program. Let smiles become your key signal of success.
Adults who work with kids in a physical activity setting need to carefully craft their sessions to resemble a child-driven play session. Consider what the kids would do if they were in charge and then build a session or an activity around this.
Kids love vigorous physical activity — if they can see a point to it, they have their say and it feels like play.
Summary
Help kids to love vigorous physical activity by ensuring it:
- Has a context
- Is action-packed
- Allows for some freedom and decision-making
- Feels like play
Over to you!
Use the above list of features as a checklist when planning a session. Try to include them all. After the session, reflect on how well you did this and what element/s you would like to focus on next time.
