How to Motivate Your Child to Love Exercise

An hour of exercise a day keeps children healthy and stress at bay!

Toddlers have loads of energy, and the best way to channel it is through exercise! Exercise helps strengthen growing muscles, bones, and doing it daily makes it easier to build into their routine and eventually helping them fall in love with being active.

We understand that while some children enjoy physical activities, others may not. If your preschooler falls into the latter group, here are some tips to motivate your child to exercise.

1. Look for a reason to work out 

The best way to keep exercise consistent is by finding genuine motivation. To motivate your child to exercise, talk to them about the benefits in a way they can easily understand. It could be playing a favourite sport, enjoying new equipment, having more fun outdoors, building strength, or even dreaming of becoming an athlete. When children see a purpose behind it, they’re more likely to stay excited and motivated.

2. Establish clear, realistic goals 

Long-term success comes from achieving small, gradual milestones. To motivate your child to exercise, start with something simple, like having your child help with walking the family dog. Once that goal is met, set a new one, and keep building from there. For activities like running or walking, short-term goals could be the number of blocks covered, the minutes spent, or the number of days they stay active. These smaller wins keep your child motivated in the present while steadily working toward bigger achievements. Remember, short-term goals are the steppingstones to long-term success.

3. Build momentum 

The more your child moves during the day, the more energy they’ll have for actual exercise. Simple routines, such as walking around the home once an hour, using the stairs rather than the elevator, or getting up from the sofa rather than reclining, can have a significant impact. Your youngster will find it simpler to stay active throughout exercise if they combine these little bursts of activity. This produces a beneficial snowball effect over time, whereby increased movement generates more energy, which in turn generates even more movement.

4. Mix It Up!

Bring some jazz and switch up the types of exercises. Monotony may not motivate children to exercise, so trying out different activities will definitely shake things up. You can go swimming, walking, hiking, or even try some Zumba to add variety. There are endless options! This will help your toddler stay engaged while keeping both their mind and body active.

5. Keep Reasonable Expectations 

It's wonderful to have high hopes. However, be sure they are reasonable as well to motivate your child to exercise. There isn't a magic potion for performance or physical wellness. It takes time for children's bodies to develop and adapt. Encourage your child to strive for the ultimate goal, but make sure it's attainable and that they realize it's a daily process rather than a one-time achievement.

South Africa’s beautiful landscapes like Emmarentia Dam, Silvermine in Cape Town, Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, or the beaches of Durban offer the perfect backdrop for children to exercise while having fun. Whether they’re running on open fields, hiking short trails, or playing beach games, these natural spaces turn movement into an adventure that keeps children active and energized.

Make sure the training activities your child participates in are suitable for their age and natural abilities. For more physically demanding activities, consult your child’s primary care physician. A doctor can guide you on the type and amount of physical exercise that best fits your child’s age, skill level, and overall health.