Walking Tips for Children
Statistics show that children are living increasingly sedentary lives. Suggestions on encouraging your child to enjoy regular walks include:
Start good habits early. Take young babies and toddlers for walks in their stroller. As they get older, encourage them to walk part of the way.
Schedule a regular family walk – this is a great way to pass on healthy habits to your children and spend time together, while getting fit at the same time.
When walking with children, make sure the route and length of time spent walking is appropriate to their age. Approximately half a mile per birthday is a good rule of thumb. For example, a four year old can be expected to walk up to two miles, with plenty of rest breaks.
Encourage your child’s interest in nature through books and websites, then follow-up with ‘field trips’ so they can discover their favorite animals or plants for themselves (and enjoy the health benefits of walking at the same time).
