Beating child couch potato syndrome

Whether you decide to use the gym or another tactic, here are eight Salzmann strategies to help your child get moving and stay active:

1. Encourage your kids to play games and take up various sports that they’re interested in.

2. Experiment with different activities so your children don’t get bored. Examples could include tennis, cycling, swimming, horseback riding, boxercise, jazz or ballet classes.

3. Kids often emulate their parents’ behaviour, so teach them that exercise is a smart habit by being regularly active in your own life.

4. Make exercise a family activity. Take everyone to the park, go cycling or take a long walk together.

5. Limit the time your kids watch television and use the computer – this will ensure they stay active.

6. Give them chores such as taking out the rubbish and tending the garden so they’ll be exposed to physical work.

7. Provide balanced meals so your children will feel more energetic. Limit their intake of sugar-laden foods, which cause energy levels to plummet.

8. Make sure your children rest between workouts so they don’t get burned out and their muscles can recover properly. Doing a specific workout three to five days a week is adequate.