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One in five American school-aged children is older than 95thBody mass index (BMI) percentile, which indicates obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The result is an increase in health risk factors, social struggles and future health risks for these children. Likewise, the American Heart Association points out that childhood obesity is currently the biggest youth-related health problem facing parents. This now obscures concerns about drug and alcohol use.
This three-fold increase in childhood obesity has been largely attributed to an increase in caloric intake and a decrease in physical activity. Children eat more and exercise less than they did 30 or 40 years ago.
Now that the culprits have been identified, the solution to childhood obesity appears to be a simple one. We just need to motivate children to move more and eat less. Problem solved. However, anyone who works with children understands that motivating children to change their habits can be challenging.
The interaction of a child's stage of brain development and the resulting psychology makes children more impulsive, more emotional, and less able to assess the relationship between actions and outcomes. As adults, we cannot assume that children are motivated by the same things that motivate us.
So how can we inspire “unmotivated” children to change their health-related habits? Here are three strategies that have been studied both in research and in my nearly 20 years of working with children of all physical abilities and motivation levels. While changing dietary habits is essential, the focus of interventions here is on exercise habits.
Three key components to motivating an unmotivated child to exercise are:
- Elternteilnahme
- Förderung wahrgenommener Kompetenz
- Bildung
parenting
Children reflect their parents' behavior. When it comes to health, research published in theInternational Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Disorderssuggests that having an obese parent increases the likelihood of obesity in children by three times. Two overweight parents increase the likelihood tenfold. Research also suggests that for a child to be successful with a behavior change strategy, at least one parent must also participate.
It is important to consider the actions, behaviors and beliefs surrounding physical activity at home. When children hear their parents talk about healthy habits as a kind of punishment for indulgence, their perception of physical activity will undoubtedly become negative.
One of the most positive things you can do as a parent is to engage in physical activity with your children. It's important that they see that you enjoy being active. While it has been suggested that limiting screen time in teenagers can help improve health, the same is true for adults. Getting up from the couch to engage with your children brings several benefits to everyone involved.
Promoting perceived competence
There was a time when children played physically demanding games in their free time, took part in daily physical education classes at school, and also had the opportunity to play various sports throughout the year. This gave children plenty of opportunities to find activities they enjoyed. Granted, there were still kids who weren't drawn to rigorous physical activity, but there were plenty of options.
Currently, interaction with technology occupies the average child's free time, and very few schools offer frequent physical education classes. Participation in sport has become the main outlet for young people's physical activity. If a child does not excel in the few sports they may be exposed to, a negative attitude toward their own physical competence may form.
Research suggests that a child's level of perceived competence and autonomy in an activity is a powerful motivator. Both children and adults are more likely to do what they think they are good at.
To promote this, it is important to expose children to a wide range of physical activity. Competitive sports represent only a small part of how children can develop a relationship with exercise. As your children's fitness "mentor," you may need to think outside the box to help them discover activities they enjoy.
Exercise doesn't have to be a high-intensity, heart-pounding, competitive endeavor. A low-intensity playful activity can help get kids off the couch. Something like juggling may not burn a lot of calories, but it does develop hand-eye coordination, rhythm, and other sensory skills. Practicing this activity could make things like catching a ball, dancing, or other high-intensity activities easier. Depending on the child, of course not. However, any activity that requires movement is better for a child's health than sitting and watching TV.
Education
As previously mentioned, young children often lack the mental ability to connect their current actions with future outcomes. It's difficult to motivate a child to "find sports you enjoy now, or you may struggle with your health as an adult." However, research on physical/health education in schools suggests that children's participation, motivation and adherence to exercise improves when they understand why they do what they do.
When you enable or engage children in physical activity, highlight how physical activity benefits their lives outside of the standard answers of “weight loss, health, and improved performance.” For example, ask them how they feel after training. They are usually energetic, alert and even more focused. Creating a broader understanding of the importance of exercise and health increases the likelihood that children will identify with something relevant to them, making it a lifelong habit.
Try these three motivational approaches with your children to inspire them to be active for life!