A lot of parents have asked me how to get their kids to be more active at home. It’s actually must easier than you think. Just 2 Steps…
Step 1: Take away all the dopamine suckers / digital distractions. ( you want to disconnect the wifi, hide video games, tv, iphones, etc.)
The reason is, all of these things are dopamine bottomless pits. Kids naturally have a lot of dopamine. I call it the get off your butt and do stuff chemical. This is the neurotransmitter that basically is motivation to do anything. When your hungry and see a cookie BOOM Dopamine! and before you have another thought you’re already walking towards it.
Iphones, video games, etc… are designed to be addictive and feed off of dopamine. Kids will not have the self discipline to go be active vs. lay on the couch and watch TV.
Step 2: Give them something active to do. A soccer ball, football, paper airplanes, anything!
When they don’t have any distractions they still have all the dopamine. What happens? They get off their butt and look for something to do. Think back to when you were a kid, did your parents ever say “go outside”… “what do I do”… “play”
This is the #1 reason this generation of kids is less active than ever. They just have more distractions.
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