Striving to ensure your kids have ample opportunity to be physically active helps them adopt an active lifestyle which sets the foundation for a healthy lifestyle in adulthood. Here are some great ways to help your kids adopt the habit of engaging in physical activity.

Outdoors

Parents should make the most of the good weather these days, points out Monica Valrani, CEO of Ladybird Nursery, and make the effort to take the kids outdoors. She adds that the abundance of parks in the city is ideal for picnics, where children can burn off all the delicious food in the play areas, on the climbing frames, or simply rolling down the many green hills.

In fact, there are a number of new, child-friendly skate parks in town, located both indoors and outdoors. All you need is a board and the necessary protective gear, and the kids are set to learn a new skill. They can begin by learning to balance on flat ground, and move onto slopes as their confidence grows.

Valrani says that another great way to keep them moving is at the beach, where all will enjoy kicking around a ball and joining a spirited bout of playing catch with a Frisbee. “A change of scenery will make getting in that daily activity more interesting for the children,” she explains.

Another welcome change from the surrounding skyscrapers is a trip out of the city. Parents can pack a picnic and take the family on a road trip to Hatta. Children are sure to enjoy the many opportunities to hike and trek amidst the mountainous terrain. The chance to spot elusive wildlife is sure to keep them up and going all day long.

Getting Involved

For those parents who want to spend extra time with their little ones, Valrani suggests involving them in daily exercise routines after work. “Why not have them cycle alongside during a daily jog, to get them to incorporate physical activity into their days and to show them how it can become a natural part of everyday life.” She has found that keeping active is enjoyed more by children when they can do so alongside those they look up to, and also gives parents the incentive to follow through with keeping themselves and their children active.

Organized Sports

For children who enjoy more structured activities, there is a plethora of sport lessons offered to choose from in the city, such as tennis, football, cricket and basketball. It is a great opportunity for children to make new friends through team sports, which leads to them looking forward to their scheduled activities. Given the many facilities offered by residential communities, children are usually never far from a court or grass covered space where they can further hone their skills with neighbors and friends alike.

(Credit: Monica Valrani, CEO of Ladybird Nursery, with two branches in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) and Jumeirah, Dubai)

For more information, visit https://ladybirdnursery.ae/