It takes constant stimulation to keep children motivated, and to keep them fit for life, it will take constant stimulation if you don’t want boredom to set in.

The national obesity epidemic has not only taken over the lives of adults, but of children as well. Technology in part has helped us to become a society that sits rather than moves. If adults aren’t moving about, children follow the example set for them. Let’s break the cycle of a sedentary lifestyle and teach our children how to be fit for life.

Here are some ways that you can get your children up off the couch and moving each and every day:

* Do something you love – This is the biggest boost to motivation. If you try an activity and it doesn’t work for you, then don’t be afraid to try something else. Children will be quick to tell you that they don’t like something;  Ask them what activities they like to do and strive to choose one each day to participate in. When you like what you do, it feels natural to do it all the time.

* Don’t think of physical activity as exercise – Instead of saying “Let’s go exercise,” which sounds like work, say “Let’s go have fun.” Make it fun and children will forget to be bored and just enjoy themselves. It could be as simple as shooting hoops in the driveway or riding bicycles.

* Exercise with your children – It’s easy to sit back and tell your children what to do, but that would not be a good example for them. Play kickball in the backyard, ride bikes together, hike in the woods and before you know it, you will feel like a kid again. Not only is your child staying motivated, but you are as well.

* Invite their friends along – Exercise is great when you have a partner. If you are getting together a game of basketball, invite your children’s friends to participate. Activities like this are more fun when you have lots of people. Form a neighborhood team or get involved with a church team. This promotes competitiveness and keeps children motivated to get moving.

* Set goals – If your child is a little bit heavier than others their age, the goal could be to slim down a bit. Goals give us something to work towards, a motivation for staying fit. Children can be motivated by the same types of things as adults.

If you want to keep your children fit and break the epidemic of obesity, use these ideas to make it happen.