Encourage Active Hobbies to Last Your Child a Lifetime

Encouraging your child to partake in healthy hobbies can promote better development for life. Many of the best hobbies also promote physical activity and can keep your son or daughter keep fit while having fun. Here are four great active hobbies that can last your child a lifetime.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding will give your child the chance to master new skills while interacting with one of nature’s most majestic creatures. Your son or daughter can partake in casual riding or compete in equestrian or other horseback riding tournaments as more skills are developed. You’ll likely have no trouble finding riding schools in your area that will take your child from beginner to advanced rider without progressing too fast or too slow. 

Swimming

Whether your child wants to become the next Michael Phelps or just wants to swim for fun, this aquatic activity offers many physical benefits. Your youngster will get a good cardio workout and develop better muscle tone by learning to master swim strokes like the butterfly and backstroke. Public pools teach swim lessons to participants of all ages and skill levels. If your child is good enough and chooses to compete at a high level, swimming could even open the door to future college scholarships.

Martial Arts

The right martial arts school can teach your son or daughter the fundamentals of karate, tai chi, kung fu and other martial arts styles. Balance, flexibility, stamina and physical strength can all be enhanced through martial arts. Learning martial arts can also be good for sharpening concentration and developing better self-discipline. Performing skills tests to earn different belt colors and competing in tournaments can provide additional motivation for kids and make them more engaged in their training.

Ice Skating

This popular winter sport often feels more like a fun day with friends than a fitness activity, but ice skating is one of the best exercises for staying in shape. The basics of ice skating aren’t difficult for most people to learn and can be parlayed into more advanced disciplines of skating such as figure skating, hockey and speed skating. Open public skating sessions are easy to find in most cities, and this is especially true during the Christmas holiday season. To keep your child protected better from falls when learning to skate, it’s advisable for them to wear helmets and gloves as well as knee and elbow pads.

Getting your child involved in an active hobby is one of the best things that you can do as a parent. Active hobbies offer many benefits that can enhance both the body and mind.

By Meghan Belnap

Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.