The importance of exercise to children has been highlighted in a number of recent studies and reports. It seems that childhood obesity has been rising at an alarming rate and that the lack of exercise is one of the key causes.

This feels, on the face of it, to be quite surprising. When we think of children we almost automatically think of them as being active and playing. Yet it’s clearly the case that many kids aren’t as active as they could be. Why might this be?

One reason might be the rise of technology. Technological developments have brought all sorts of new entertainment sources into our homes. This means that many kids are probably spending more time playing video games or using internet based activities.

Does this create a problem? It’s clear that many of the activities associated with the new technologies involve a minimal amount of movement. If these activities have taken over from traditional games then it undoubtedly points to a lack of exercise.

Fortunately it is an issue that can be dealt with. It will require a little time and effort on the part of parents. The key is to show kids how much fun is to be found in active play. It’s vital to demonstrate that exercise is by no means boring.

So how can this be done? If your children already have an interest in a particular sport then this might be relatively easy to do. In essence, you may need to tap into that liking and to encourage them to spend more time actively playing.

But what about if they don’t already have such an interest? An alternative approach that you can take is to make use of garden toys and games to show how fun they can be. Outdoor games are usually more active than indoor alternatives.

This could mean helping your children to fly a kite or to use a new trampoline. Such activities aren’t simply fun – they’re also helping them to get the exercise that they might otherwise be missing out on.

It’s obviously a good idea to help your children to get the most from their hours spent playing. Encouraging good exercise habits has enormous benefits.