Don’t we wish we could always send the kids out to play? All that physical activity is great for them in more ways than scientific knowledge today can probably describe. Social and emotional skills are getting tested and honed, endorphins are flowing, muscles are strengthening and the heart and the lungs are getting their groove on. And not to talk about the temporary respite that caregivers get! But alas, the real world often doesn’t grant parents and caregivers that wish. Sometimes it’s the weather – some days the outdoors looks like a scene in an apocalyptic movie. Sometimes, the responsible person required to keep a watchful eye is just not able to make the time. Sometimes you’re in a place that doesn’t have an outdoors per se. This is where the magic of the internet steps in to throw us a lifeline once more.
Screen Time as A Path to Physical Activity for Kids
For many of us, our first vision when we think of kids screen time is a child entranced by a screen where the biggest workout they get may be for their fingers. Or we think of a child vegging out on a sofa or a bed, eyes glued to a screen with the only sign of motion being the slight rise and fall of their chest. Screen time is definitely not causing any physical activity there. However, when you think of it, screens can be incredible motivators for physical activity for kids. Hey, the people at Dance Dance revolution and the Wii Fit were onto something. And when was the last time you went to a self respecting gym that didn’t have any screens? Here are some tips for using screen time to help your kids get physical activity.
Put on Some Music Videos and Have the Kids Just Dance
This one was quite clear seeing as it is the title of the post. When you find that sending kids out to play doesn’t match with practicality, put on some favorite jams and let them go crazy. There are a gazillion videos designed to get kids of all ages moving. YouTube channels like GoNoodle will get even the most grouchy 5-year-old going. For your tweens, dance tutorials to various Kidz bop songs or favorite movie tunes can make them forget how cool they think they are for a bit. Plus you can join in the dancing too! Your body also deserves to get some endorphins flowing, muscles strengthening, social and emotional skills tested and honed and, the heart and the lungs getting their groove on.
Play Move-Along Stories
Again, there are gazillion videos of read aloud books and entire shows that urge movement and encourage participation. Now you may think it is just shows for the littlest ones like the Wiggles or Bo on the Go. But when you think about it, all those teeny bop musicals like Julie and the Phantoms and Zombies are move along stories in disguise. The cool kids will do it and enjoy it too.
Play Kids Yoga or Exercise Videos
This one gives your cover away and may require some cajoling, especially for kids older than 7 years old. But as direct as this is, there are tons of Zumba, yoga, and other exercise videos for kids. While some kids may push back because these videos don’t beat about the bush, often the music choices and the comical enthusiasm of the kids in the videos pass through the screen and encourage your own ball of energy to shed some.
Given its reputation – and sadly its misuse – it may not have been apparent that screen time is the handiest cheat to helping kids get physical activity. So the next time when outdoors is off limits and indoor space is not conducive to the games that really get them going, remember you still have a way to get them to be physically active and let them just dance (plus the other 2 things too).
PS. Ask other parents to send you Anetapacks of the Music videos, move along stories, and exercise videos that they have curated. There’s absolutely no need to recreate the wheel and this was what precisely Aneta was built for.
