Whether it’s a run, jump, skip, or a hop, your child simply loves to move. However, although your child is relatively active, you often wonder whether they’re getting enough exercise, and how much exercise a child should be getting in general?

Getting enough activity is vital for kids. Not just for their physical development, but for their mental and emotional development, too. Typically, a child should be moving for at least 60 minutes per day, with their time being divided between muscle-strengthening, bone-strengthening, and aerobic activities. The best type of activity is also carried out in bursts - 10 or 15 minute segments of physical activity before, during, and after school.

However, we understand that finding and planning physical activity for your child can feel overwhelming. So, we’re here to help you find some youth sports your little one may enjoy, and to give some tips on how you can provide them with enough activity at home.

First up, let’s talk about some youth sports your child might enjoy.

What are some youth sports my child might enjoy?

When a child is at school, it’s recommended that they move at different points throughout the day. For example, they should be having an average of 30 minutes of physical exercise a day, and a 20 minute recess period too. It’s important to be aware of how much exercise your child is getting at school, so check up on this if you can.

At school, your child is likely to take part in team sports, which will help them get enough daily activity. Here are some activities they might have the opportunity to try:

Basketball.
Cheerleading.
Flag football.
Soccer (indoor/outdoor).
Lacrosse.
Hockey.
T-ball.
Volleyball.

Some other individual options include:

Dance.
Rock climbing.
Yoga.
Track and field.
Tennis.
Martial arts.
Ice skating.
Horseback riding.
Golf.

Now that we’ve explored some youth sports your child might enjoy, let's talk about how you can provide your child with enough exercise at home:

How can I provide my child with activity at home?

Overall, it’s best to try and give our child as much time and space to play as possible, as this is really important for their development and overall happiness. Introducing them to various activities will also help them from becoming bored, and give them something interesting to engage in.

So, here are some ideas!

Playing catch or frisbee.
Sledding or snow-shoeing.
Visiting a playground.
Walking or hiking.
Jumping rope or spinning a hula hoop.
Indoor dance parties.
Biking or in-line skating.

How much activity does my child need?

Get your child moving for better health. Unii has some fun ideas.