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Families play an important role in helping teenagers learn to be active and stay active throughout their lives.
Whilst parents have a significant influence on the activity levels of children, this influence declines as children grow older. Hence, it is important to establish healthy behaviour patterns in children early on.
While adolescents may be increasingly influenced by their peers, parents can also act as role models by being active themselves and implementing some of the useful strategies listed below.
Strategies for Families
1. Model Positive Physical Activity
- Parents should set a positive example by leading an active lifestyle themselves
- Make family time an opportunity for physical activity eg. take a walk together after dinner; do housework, gardening or yard work together; walk the dog together; make use of low- or no-cost sports facilities such as the local public parks, tennis courts, sports fields, swimming pool and other local recreational areas
- Replace inactivity with activity whenever possible eg. walk or bike to school instead of driving; scooter to the local store instead of driving
- Build physical activity into the family's daily routine
- Include physical activity breaks in events such as long car trips, holidays or visits to relatives or friends. Bring along beach balls, kites, skipping ropes, or other items that can be used for active play
2. Walk- and Cycle-to-School Programs
- Parents should encourage their teenagers to participate in 'International Walk to School Week' and support ongoing walk and bike to school programs
3. Partner with the Teen's School
- Attend family nights or other physical activity events at the teen's school or local community centres
- Find out what physical activities are offered in the teen's school
- When required, encourage the school to implement a comprehensive school physical activity program. This includes quality physical education, before- and after-school sport programs, walk- and bike-to-school programs, and school staff wellness programs
- Become a member of the school health advisory council or P&F
- Help organise special events such as athletics and swimming carnivals, walk-, dance- or bike-a-thons or walk- or bike-to-school day
- Volunteer to help with before- and after-school physical activity programs or sports teams
4. Limit 'Screen Time' (time watching television, playing video games, or using the computer)
- Know how much screen time parents and teens are using and then set limits for the entire family
- Do not use screen time as a reward or punishment for teens
- Turn commercial breaks into activity breaks when watching television. Do jumping jacks, push-ups or crunches, or run in place during commercial breaks
- Turn off the television during mealtimes and homework
- Place the television and computer in common areas such as the living room, instead of the teen's bedroom
- Create a curfew for handing in technology in the evening to ensure uninterrupted sleep
5. Encourage Physical Activity for Youth
- Help teens participate in team or individual sports, as well as noncompetitive activities such as cycling, hiking, jogging and swimming
- Be positive about the physical activities the teen engages and encourage their interest in new physical activities
- Parents should facilitate participation in sports by providing transportation to and from sporting events
- Discuss the benefits of physical activity with the teen
- Give teens gifts that promote physical activity
6. Encourage Teens to be Active with Friends
- Play outside with friends (eg kick a ball, fly a kite, frisbee, handball) instead of watching television, playing computer games or Internet surfing when friends come over
- Make special events physical activity events eg. swimming birthday parties or laser skirmish
- Join a sports team (eg. soccer) or try a new physical activity with a friend (eg. Zumba)
7. Participate in School-Based Physical Activity
- Family homework assignments
- Activity newsletters
- Family activity nights
- Field days
- Walk-to-School Week