How do you get your non sporty dcs to exercise?

[loombandqueen]

My ds is 10 and totally not into any sport despite our encouraging him over the years. He is just not a physical dc and prefers to sit and read or draw or make something. Even when he plays tig with friends he tends to walk around slowly or lean over to tig people! I am starting to worry about his fitness. He also loves his food so I don't want him to get fat. I want to get him more active but in an enjoyable way. Help!

What about geo caching

You follow directions on your phone and find 'treasure' which you take and leave something of your own. - cracker presents and other cheapy plastic things. All done by walking but in stealth mode!

Thanks Fur. We have done that and he does enjoy it. We have done all the ones walking distance from us though and have no car in the week.

What about setting a challenge to scale some local peaks, or even ones a bit further from home? It s a nice way to exercise together as a family. I was also a very non-sporty child and I wish my parents had encouraged me to do more walking, hiking, swimming, cycling. I'm not overweight now but I do feel unfit, and sort of wish I was interested in team sports! Does he have a bike? Or a trampoline??

I've got a non-sporty 10yo boy too, OP. Mine also has Aspergers and attention deficit disorder, so he really struggles with general physical awkwardness, poor hand/eye coordination and he finds the 'rules' of team sports hard to follow.

He does however genuinely enjoy the following:

-bouncing on the trampoline

-climbing activities (either climbing wall, or those outward bound type tree climbing/high ropes courses)

-bike riding

-martial arts-DS does karate

-family walks-either round local woods or national trust type thing.

Would any of those appeal?

Of the non-sporty DC I know, many seem to enjoy climbing (climbing walls), martial arts, and bike riding. Or how about kayaking if you are near water?

There are plenty of ways to exercise that do not involve "sport", but unfortunately only competitive sport involving balls, running and outside seem to be offered in schools, leading to loads of children (including me) to believe that they hate exercise, which is really unfortunate.
Have a chat with him about what he dislikes, and try to find an alternative. I love walking, swimming, horse riding and even enjoy the gym now - some gyms have a junior class, or what about dance classes?

Biking
With the caveat slow is fine

www.parkrun.org.uk/events/juniorevents/

We had this with DD - she didn't like the fact she wasn't very good at it. So I take her out with a group of slow runners - where the aim is to solve the worlds ills rather than put in a good time. We have also bought her a blue bike and matching cycling wear and take her on rides where the aim is to look good and have a laugh - there are cafe stops and meet ups with other people and generally looking the part.

If he'd go for one of activities suggested above then great.

But if not, then another way to think about it is making exercise part of everyday life, rather than an organised activity. Making it something that the whole family would also help it seem normal, rather than a special effort that you are demanding of him.

Some examples:

• walking to school
• cycling to the shops
• family walks at the weekend - anything from a long hike to walking to the pub for lunch
• can you borrow a neighbour's dog for a walk every now and then?
• as he likes reading, can he walk/cycle to the library?
• if he likes making things, maybe go for a walk to collect leaves, berries, bugs, whatever, that he can use for craft/baking/keeping bugs in a jar purposes.