There was a time when children used to explore the great outdoors in their free time. According to a general perception, the '80s generation saw the last of that time but was left astounded by the mercurial changes taking place around them in the latter half of the '90s.

Since technological advancement has made life incredibly easier for people, the traditional physical activities for kids have also changed drastically.

Now, fun and play has all been assembled into a touch sensitive compact device (popularly known as mobile phones) and the great outdoors have been neglected by most kids ever since.

What should parents do to help their children get more exercise in the 21^st century? It is absolutely impossible to turn back the clock of time, but one could always encourage his/her kids to adopt an active lifestyle.

Here are some humble suggestions shared with the hope that they would be able to guide you towards your goal of getting your kids to lead active lives.

Kids and the Daily Routine

Children wake up in the morning, go to school, have lunch, sit through a few classes, and then return home when the school gets off for the day. What happens after that? Commonly we see kids come home and sit in front of the TV or computer screens.

Video games are another major distraction for kids which could consume a great amount of time in their daily lives. Add to the mix some processed snack foods and the formula for unhealthy living would be complete.

According to latest data made available by the National Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention shows that 30 percent of US adults, 20 years of age and older (over 60 million people), are obese.

The report also said that the percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980’s.

What Can Parents Do?

Exercises for kids come in different forms and could be done anywhere. It only requires strong will to get you to exercise regularly.

There are many ways in which you could exercise with your kids. Some are discussed as follows.

Lead by Example: Kids usually follow what they see. Therefore, it is really important for you to set a good example for your kids to follow. If you take particular interest in your fitness regimen and health, it could also prove beneficial to your children. Who knows that one day your kids might follow your example and actually lead healthy lives.

Positive Reinforcement: Getting the hang of physical activity could take some time when kids are involved. Therefore, it is advisable to make the activities fun so kids could enjoy themselves to their heart’s desire and still get the much needed exercise. Buy your kids sports equipment and give them the liberty to use them in order to identify their passion for any particular sport that they may grow to like.

Group Activities: Parents should wisely use the quality time that they get with their families. This means that the time that one or both parents spend with the kids should have some sort of physical activity placed here and there. By doing so, you would have the satisfaction of helping your child lead an active life while the child would have the satisfaction of the parents' company.

Logging Off: Turning the TV, computer or mobile phones off for a while won’t harm anyone and limiting a kid’s usage time for the mentioned items would enliven them to opportunities available in the physical world. This doesn’t mean that you should completely cut-off kids from technology. Instead select a designated time for them to watch TV or play video games.

Physical activity can’t possibly do any sorts of damage to anyone. In fact, parents and kids who indulge in an active lifestyle feel better about themselves and the people around them. The efforts that you invest in your child today would help them overcome unhealthy habits for the rest of their lives.