Wouldn’t it be nice to have an extra hour or two or three in the day? Sometimes in our busy lives, we need to take a step back and evaluate where our time should be spent. For our kids, there’s resounding evidence that suggests more movement of the body is the way to be. Whether you’re looking to help your child make time for their therapy exercises or simply more time to play, we’ll go over how you can create a routine that works for you.
Understanding Value
How do you spend your time during the day? Is it doing something you value? In most cases, the answer will be “yes.” When you truly value something or someone, you make time for it. If you don’t make time for wellness, the body is likely to respond negatively over time. For example, kids that lead a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to have back pain. When you incorporate exercise into your routine, a huge difference will be seen over time. This goes for therapy at-home exercises. Good things don’t happen overnight! Understanding the benefits of exercise is step one to making time for really anything.
Evaluate Your Schedule
It’s true (and unfortunate) that we can’t just bake up a nice steaming hot pot of extra time when we need it. As a result, there’s not always an easy answer on how to make time for exercise on a busy schedule, even when it comes to our kids. Considering that exercise is a must for a healthy body and mind, you may want to consider reevaluating where time is placed during the day. Is there an area where you can make a cut? Can you find time early or later in the day? Taking a step back to understand your current routine can help reveal an answer.
Make Time by Using Shorter Intervals
Who said you had to move that body all at once? If you have ten minutes, have your kiddo take those ten minutes to run around the yard or complete some of their therapy exercises. If you have an hour, get more movement in. A little more intentional exercise is a lot better than none at all. You can also set a few timers throughout the day if that helps. Once the timer goes off, it is time to move. Do what works for your schedule, and remember that a little bit can still go a very long way.
Sign Up For a Program or School Sport
Looking for evening or morning exercise for kids? Get them involved with a school sport! Allow them to select a sport that they are interested in and watch them soar from there. Should they have a love for soccer or gymnastics or something else, you’ll definitely want to help them pursue what they will love. Plus, they’ll be able to interact and be social with other kids. Are sports not your child’s thing? That’s okay too! We wrote a blog about how to keep your child active when they aren’t sports fans. Find it here.
Welcome the Fun
During therapy sessions, we strive to keep things as fun as possible while still helping your child learn the skills that they need to be successful. Fun is actually a really nifty tool because it can keep your child engaged in an activity for a longer period of time and it makes learning a skill more attainable. Oftentimes, we are tasked with getting creative and setting themes that are engaging. Our team likes to take advantage of holiday-themed activities that fit the season. Play has tremendous benefits, and it keeps you (and your child) wanting more. What happens when you want more? That’s right! You make time for it. Try playing to your child’s interests to see if it makes them want to get off the couch.
Of course, we want our kids to lead lives with lots of movement, but sometimes pesky conditions and problems get in the way. Considering physical therapy for your child? Reach out to us today.
We’re on social media but trust us. We do a lot to make time for exercise each day. Should you want to learn more about our office and child development, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.