Some children just aren’t into spots, but that shouldn’t mean they have to be glued to the tube. Creative kids fitness may be as simple as a walk in the park. Help your sedentary son or daughter discover the benefits and joys of physical activity with these 10 tips.

Family Fitness Tip #1: Too much Screen Time
The most important rule of all is to limit a child’s access to TV, videogames and computer games. The best way to go about implementing such changes is to sit down and have a family meeting where you establish new screen-time rules. Make sure that everyone in the home, including adults, follows the rules. Encourage active alternatives to these passive pastimes, such as shooting hoops at the local playground, walk the dog, or a game of tag.

Family Fitness Tip #2: Activities out the Playing Fields
Not everyone is drawn to organized sports such as soccer or baseball. Look for other activities your child will enjoy – like dancing, rock climbing, swimming or martial arts. And have patience – It may take some trial and error before your kid finds the right fit.

Family Fitness Tip #3: Get in the Game
Kids love when their parents play with them. So encourage children’s fitness by taking a family hike. Have a game of catch. Walk or bike to school together. You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment or special classes to encourage your child to exercise.

Family Fitness Tip #4: Walk Your Talk Parents and Lead by Example
If you vegetate in front of the TV every night, the remote control in one hand and a bag of chips in the others, you’re not practicing what you preach. And your kids aren’t likely to respect restrictions you set on their screen time either. So check your own viewing behavior and serve as a role model by incorporating physical activity into your everyday life. Regularly participate in active pursuits that you enjoy and let your kids see – and hear about – how much you enjoy them.

Family Fitness Tip #5: Establish a Family Fit Routine
Make sure that children’s fitness is plugged into the family schedule in the same way that school, work, shopping, chores, family gatherings, birthday parties, and play dates find their way onto the calendar. You and your child are more likely to stick to an exercise play if you incorporate it into your life on a routine basis. And your child will begin to expect (and accept) that Saturday morning usually means a bike ride, and a couple of nights a week after dinner the family takes a brisk walk through the neighborhood or Sunday morning means family sports time.

Family Fitness #6: Take a Non-Negotiable Position and Promote Activities and Health
Is going to school, brushing teeth, or wearing a seat belt a subject of debate in your home? No, because these are all activities that promote the health, safety and well-being of your child. Well, the same approach should apply to children’s fitness, says Nixon. It’s a no-brainer. Getting regular exercise is good for your mental and physical health. Stand firm from the get-go and don’t let your child argue the merits of playing computer games versus ball games or playing outside.

Family Fitness #7: Kids Need Positive Support
Praise a child for perfecting that handstand or figuring out how to pump those legs to swing high into the sky. Children need to hear encouragement for reaching even small goals, such as walking or biking further than last time. Remember; acknowledge the effort – choosing to be active or trying to improve a skill – rather than the outcome to help build your child’s confidence.

Family Fitness #8: Bring a Friend Along
Kids love to hang out with their peers, so invite a buddy along for a bike ride, offer to being a friend ice-skating, or head to the pool with a companion. Young children enjoy going to the playground with friends to chase, climb, swing, slide, and run. If your child is more likely to check out a team sport with a friend in tow, then go ahead and sign her up. Just make sure the focus is on making fitness and learning new skills.

Family Fitness #9: Child in Charge
Let each kid taking a turn choosing an active weekend pursuit or after school activity. The nature lover may vote for a hike, the adventurer may opt for a trip to the nearest jungle gym or climbing wall. More sedentary souls may select an activity – like walking, biking or scootering – with a destination in mind, such as a visit to the local library. Whether you wind up at a batting cage, bowling alley, or belling dancing class, they all count as children’s fitness activities and your child can feel a sense of control over the situation. For younger kids, however, you may want to limit how many options they have to choose from.

Family Fitness #10: Keep the Fun in Kids Fitness
Little children don’t need much encouragement to stretch like a cat, run like a tiger, or jump like a bunnie. And they’ll have a blast doing it. Whatever the activity, you want to keep the fun in kid fitness. As a family, we love to put on some music and everyone starts dancing. Sometimes we take turns and do our own little solo dance while everyone is cheering the dancer like a solo train.