ready, set, get a girl active!
9 ways to inspire girls to become physically active
There are so many benefits for girls who are physically active and involved with sports. They are confident, learn to work together as a team, and are leaders in their communities. Research shows us that girls who are physically active are less likely to engage in risky behaviors, including smoking, alcohol and drug use and risky sexual activity. A girl who exercises every day is also less likely to get cancer and less likely to develop heart disease as an adult.
You can help the girls in your life benefit from physical activity by helping them recognize it’s important and worth the time and effort to keep at it. Here are some tips to inspire them.
Source: www.WomensSportsFoundation.org
Reprinted with permission of Women’s Sports Foundation.
1. break down the barriers to activity
Let her know that it’s okay to sweat and be athletic. Encourage her friends to join in. When she sees them doing activity, she may be persuaded that it’s cool after all. If she doesn’t know anything about sports, start to watch different sports together so she can understand the rules and how different games are played.
2. emphasize the non-aesthetic benefits of exercise
Many teen girls are preoccupied with their bodies and physical appearance. Emphasize that physical activity has many benefits that don’t just have to do with looks, like strength, stamina, flexibility and improved self-esteem.
3. introduce her to role models
Let her see you working out, sweating and making physical activity part of your life. Take her to girls’ and women’s sports events. Check out the biographies and films of women sports heroes like Billie Jean King, the Williams sisters, Abby Wambach and Gabrielle Douglas.
4. discover activities that fit her personality and body type
Suggest activities in which she can be successful and challenged, which play on existing abilities and where she will learn new skills. Find a challenge for her skill level and body type.
5. buddy up
Don’t just tell her—show her—be active together and set a good example. Start an activity bracelet (a charm bracelet will work) that includes balls and activity charms that commemorate the activities you did together. Take a class together or show her your moves!
6. praise and reward
Praise and reward her efforts. A smile, a nod of the head, some kind words of encouragement can be powerful.
7. mix it up
Some girls, especially teens, tend to get bored easily. Make sure you are doing a wide variety of activities to keep them interested. Instead of running around a track or playing soccer on a field, take your activities to the beach or a local park. Each season try a weather-appropriate sport.
8. encourage her to stick with it
Help her schedule the time to be active by keeping a fitness calendar or putting your activities on a calendar. Sneak notes into her lunch or her clothes with words of inspiration or praise.
9. keep it fun
Make a sports scrapbook. Collect pictures of females doing physical activities in magazines and paste them in a scrapbook with thoughts about how the pictures make her feel. Or just keep it simple, jump rope, ride bikes or build an obstacle course together!
