Children lack movement. How to motivate them and awaken their love of sport?

Movement is essential for the healthy development of children. And with children spending more and more time in front of computer screens, mobile phones and tablets, getting enough exercise is more important than ever. Did you know that, according to the Czech Society of Obesity Research, one in four children under the age of 16 is overweight and one in six is obese? The most common causes are poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Bottom line - children's daily calorie intake (often several times) exceeds their expenditure. And the weight goes up.

5 key benefits of playing sport: 

- Supports physical development.

- Improves psychological well-being.  

- Develops cognitive function.

- Increases healthy self-esteem.

- Promotes healthy habits.

The possibilities are endless. Think about trying different activities and finding ones that your child will enjoy. Also consider the child's age, interests and health when choosing. It is also wise to take into account accessibility (nearby sports are ideal) and the cost of the sport.

Running: a simple and accessible sport that strengthens the heart, lungs and leg muscles.

Athletics: athletics includes a wide range of events such as running, jumping, throwing and throwing. Children can thus develop in different areas and strengthen the body in a comprehensive way.

Gymnastics: a great sport for developing strength, coordination, flexibility and balance.

Team sports: football, hockey, ice hockey and others develop coordination, speed, strength, reflexes and strengthen cooperation and team spirit.

Swimming: the ideal sport for hot days and winter months. It is very gentle on children's joints.

Dance: a great way to express your emotions and exercise your whole body at the same time. Dance develops coordination, rhythm, flexibility and a sense of music.

Winter sports: skiing, skating, sledding, snowboarding? All this is great fun and brings lots of health benefits.

Cycling: it is the ideal combination of fun and exercise in the fresh air. By cycling, the child strengthens the muscles of the lower limbs and the whole body, trains coordination of movements, balance, concentration, endurance, willpower, determination, competitiveness and strengthens social bonds. 

Individual sports, horse riding, climbing, parkour and many more. 

The best motivation is your own example. Children learn best by imitation - play sports with them and show them how beautiful movement is.  Praise and reward effort and never force children to do anything. Let them find activities they enjoy on their own. It's great to make sport a tradition/ritual. Just enjoy it. After all, these are the memories they carry with them for a lifetime.