Another reason running is so popular is that it can be a lot of fun!

Although spending time creating a training program is important, it’s also important to find ways to keep running fun and interesting. Here are some tips that can help your kids, and maybe you, develop a love for running that will last a lifetime: 

Make It Fun!

This should be the number one rule, and not just for the kids! 

Now, we think running is naturally fun, and eventually we hope your kids will too. Putting some extra thought into making sure the running experience is fun will pay off in the end. 

Using running games is a great way to get kids moving without them even realizing it. Simple games like tag, follow the leader, Simon Says, hide and seek and relay races are fun ways to help your kids get in lots of running steps and improve their endurance. 

Scavenger hunts, obstacle courses and geocaching also make running fun for everyone.

Invite your kids’ friends or other families to join in – the more the merrier!

Finally, another idea for extra motivation while running is to use running as a form of transportation – active transportation that is. Have a destination to run to and running point-to-point rather in circles can make running more interesting. Encourage your kids to use running to get places when possible and reasonable.

Sign Them Up For A Fun Run

We believe another great motivator is a sense of accomplishment.

Working hard toward something, overcoming obstacles, pushing yourself beyond your limits… and then realizing that you actually did it, that you were able to make it through—that’s a rewarding feeling that can impact runners of all ages and abilities!

Kids have the ability to surprise even themselves when they give it their all, and a fun run is a great way to put their mental and physical strengths to the test and give them something to work towards.  

Running in a fun run provides everyone, regardless of ability, with the opportunity to feel good about their accomplishment. With most fun runs providing medals and goodies at the end, you and your kids will have a memento to remind you of the fun and contribute to your sense of pride and achievement at the end of the day.

If you’re looking for some fun run options for you and your kids, check out our list of available provincial Fun Runs for an upcoming event in your area!

Make It A Family Thing

Running can be a great way to mesh family bonding and physical activity into one. In fact, almost 50% of our participants tell us that someone in their family started running when they joined Kids Run Club. 

Embracing running as a parent is also a great opportunity for you to be a good role model for your kids.  Research shows that kids whose parents are active are more likely to be active themselves!

Whether your an avid runner or new to the sport yourself, running with your kids can be rewarding for everyone!

Set goals with your kids using a running log to track their progress and offer incentives, like a movie night, for example, for when they achieve distance milestones.  Make sure you consider some of the tips provided in this blog to keep it fun. 

Switch Up Your Environment

As we said before, running can be done almost anywhere and in most weather. 

We also know that time spent in nature has many health benefits. So why not combine the two?  

We’re lucky in Nova Scotia to have access to ‘nature’ in many locations, whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or more rural areas.

Jog along some trails, race around historic sites, or run along the beach. The options are endless and Nova Scotia has no shortage of running trails nor beautiful scenery to enjoy. 

So there you have it—four easy-to-implement tips for encouraging your kids to keep running!

What makes you love running? How do you keep your kids interested? If you have any tips you’d like to share with others, please leave your comments below!

“One run can change your day, many runs can change your life.”

No matter your age, this quote speaks the truth. For a veteran runner who has a room full of race medals or a youngster who’s about to run in their first fun run, running can be life-changing.

If you have kids, you’ve likely noticed the amount of time they spend in front of screens. Years ago, kids’ free time was often spent outdoors, playing games, riding bikes, and exploring their surroundings. Screen-time was limited to the odd after-school program and Saturday morning cartoons. How times have changed…

With so many temptations to be sedentary, we have to work extra hard to keep our kids adequately active. Keeping it simple and fun, limiting the need for equipment or facilities are important, as well as ensuring it’s an activity that can be done alone, in groups, or for a lifetime! One of those activities is running. In this blog post, we share some of the benefits of running that can help your kids thrive for years to come:

Running Can Increase Happiness

Running is known to have a direct relationship with our mental well-being. Running is a cardiovascular exercise that quickly nourishes the brain with a rush of blood and that helps you think more clearly. In fact, cardiovascular exercises like running balance out the harmful effects of stress hormones, such as cortisol, by producing endorphins—also known as the happiness hormone. In other words, running is a natural way to counter stress and anxiety.

Therefore, encouraging kids to run—or supporting their desire to do so—can have a positive influence on their happiness, confidence and stress levels.

Running Can Improve Brain Function

Research consistently shows the cognitive benefits associated with physical activity. The 2018 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth highlighted the important link between physical activity and brain health. An expert statement associated with the report highlights evidence linking physical activity and improvements in:

• thinking and learning
• emotional regulation and self-control
• problem-solving ability
• memory
• brain plasticity – the growth of new brain tissue
• stress management
• the ability to deal with anxiety and depressive symptoms
• self-esteem and  self-worth
• attention and focus

So more homework isn’t necessarily the key to improved grades. Encourage your kids to be active at recess and during lunch hour. Support your school in offering extra-curricular activities and active classrooms. If these types of activities are not available at your school, talk to the principal to see if parental support might make them possible.

Running Helps Keep Bones & Joints Strong

There are a lot of questions around whether running is good or bad for your joints and knees. A recent study found that the activity may actually benefit your joints and help keep your knees working smoothly.

In addition, a professor and chair of kinesiology at the University of Virginia found that “weight-bearing exercises like running promote greater bone mineral density.” As we age, our bones weaken. But running can help keep the bones of your legs healthy and strong. For kids, who are still physically developing, the benefits of running far outweigh the risks as they’re able to set themselves up for long-term bone strength and joint stability. 

So, make sure your kids spend some time each day on their feet! Some additional activities that help build bone strength are:

• Hiking
• Basketball
• Dancing
• Jumping rope
• Soccer
• Playing racquet sports
• Geocaching
• Playing outside!

Running Is A Convenient Way To Achieve Important Vigorous Activity

Investing in a gym membership, sports leagues, day camps, after-school programs and other activities to keep your kid fit can add up—not just in terms of cost, but also in terms of stress as you manage busy schedules and dash from one practice to the next.

While those types of extracurricular activities are popular with kids and families today, they can’t compete with running when it comes to convenience. You can run almost anywhere in the province—your backyard, around the block, at a local park—and you only need a pair of sneakers to do it. In fact, Nova Scotia has many  trails where you can hike or run and for those in HRM, check out these great destinations for kids to run including some that are accessible by city bus!   

Running Can Improve Your Kids’ Cardiovascular Health

Running at a young age inspires healthy habits that become positive lifestyles in adulthood, which can help your kids avoid things like heart disease down the road.

A study conducted in 2014 suggested that running could lead to a 45 percent decrease in the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. The authors of the study reported that “runners on average lived three years longer compared to non-runners.” Further research found that running also led to lower rates of stroke, cancer and metabolic diseases like diabetes.

Conclusion

No matter your age, fitness level or location, running can be a great way to get and stay fit, improve your health and mental well-being, and most importantly, have a whole lot of fun! If you’re interested in learning about some local fun runs that happen throughout the year, check them out here!

And if you want to learn more about Kids Run Club, check this out!