Running and jogging with kids - A Parents Guide
Do you love to go jogging or are thinking about starting? Do you have older kids that complain about being bored or are full of energy ( I’m thinking little boys) and need more exercise? Surprisingly, children make great running partners and as they are potential time bombs filled with unlimited energy, sitting in front of computer screens or driving them to football or other sports once or twice a week still might not be enough to keep this insatiable energy appetite satisfied.
More and more, parents are taking their kids along with them when they go training. Running with adults is considered safe, and according to UK Athletics, kids between 4 and 14yrs can run up to 4km safely! However, most kids usually start at around 7 or 8 years old and average running distance is about 2 or 3 km or 30mins running time.
Regular aerobic workout is vital to maintaining health and wellbeing for adults but what is good for adults is also good for kids. As with all exercise and sport, you and your kids will need the right nutrition and plenty of warm-up stretches before you begin. Here’s at Schooldays.ie we’ve put together a little basic start-up guide for those interested in running together with kids. So turn off those screens and get out there and start running!
How to begin
Firstly, you will need a willing and able child. A little encouragement helps, and so does bribery. If they are completely mortified about the idea then there’s no point putting pressure on them either. However, if they are interested, start by choosing a route, say local park or beach etc, and dont worry about distance. Just start slow and see how much distance you both can cover together.
Create Small Goals
Starting off can be hard, so begin slowly by walking, then jogging and back to walking again. Begin with short distances as goals that you can both agree together. If your child is happy and wants to go further, you can create longer distance goals such as up to 1 to 2km. Make sure to stretch properly before you begin and at the end.Reward
Praise your child for taking part but not ‘winning’ and be realistic about their fitness. Pushing kids to do better will only backfire. You can reward taking part or improvement with stickers, a reward sheet, or a big fat ice-cream. .
.
With one in four Irish kids obese and overweight, the emphasis to stay fit is as important as ever. Running is free, you don't need expensive equipment ( but proper running footwear is a must) and kids naturally love to run.
For more on running and jogging with your kids, ask at your local running club for more information. For a list of running clubs around Ireland, see here.
For more on children’s health and well being, or for kid’s common health and illness issues, please see our Health and Wellbeing section.