5 ways parents can help kids get active in 2024 – and get the right insurance
Getting active helps kids stay fit and happy, while also helping set them up with good habits for life.
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So, you want to get your kids off their screens and outdoors? Here are some suggestions to keep them active.
1. Make sure they've got the right insurance
Accidents can happen out on the pitch – so having the right cover can help provide peace of mind even before they start playing.
Family health insurance can sometimes have gaps when it comes to sports injuries. So opting for an accidental insurance policy that covers a range of sports can sometimes be a preferable choice.
Flip Kids – offered by Flip Insurance – is one type of cover that provides accidental injury cover for children.
As a parent or guardian, you're able to get cover for kids aged anywhere from 5-17.
Flip Kids is also an "on-demand" product. You don't have to pay for the whole year just to cover a season's worth of play.
Instead, you can buy cover on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, to suit the specific needs of your child's chosen activities. On the days they're not playing or practicing, it can simply be switched off.
2. Sign them up for team sports
There's no question that team sport can be great for kids.
It's a way to make new friends, develop new skills, improve kids' health and stay fit. A 2022 study from the University of Sydney also suggested that there may be a link between playing sports and improved academic performance.
It's also an effective way for kids to develop resilience. A loss on the field can be disappointing – but it also helps equip kids to cope with other trials in life too.
So getting your kids signed up for a team sport can be a great way to help them develop as well-rounded people.
Ask them about their interests (don't just force them into a sport that you like), connect with local clubs and see if it feels like a good fit for their particular needs.
Many sports clubs will have open days prior to the season that let kids get a taste of what playing a particular sport will be like, too. Check out a few different ones, so that kids can get a broader impression of the sports available in your area.
Through Flip Kids, Flip Insurance also provides cover for kids playing as part of a team.
Learn more about getting your child cover for team sports
3. Talk them through the benefits
As an adult, the benefits of staying active may be obvious to you – but that's not always the case for kids.
So it's important that you talk them through the benefits and help explain to them why keeping active is important.
Now, this doesn't necessarily mean you need to break out a copy of The New Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding by Arnold Schwarzenegger! Rather, you need to be able to talk to them at a level that's relevant to their age and social experience.
So for young children, you can talk about the benefits of making new friends and keeping healthy in a broad sense.
As they get older, you might be able to discuss things like improved coordination, better muscle development and enhancing their social skills.
Considerations like improved mental health and the possibility of better results at school will often be a bit more case-by-case.
Kids are all individuals, and how you speak to them about these topics will differ. Even so, make sure you use age-appropriate language and always frame the discussion in a positive way.
4. Plan active family outings
If you want your kids to be active, you also need to set an example for them.
It's a cliche, but actions really do speak louder than words. If your kids see you lounging around while they're being shuttled from activity to activity, they're probably going to question why you're not also being active.
So in addition to signing them up for individual activities or team sports, make sure you organise time as a family to be active.
Bushwalks, hiking, indoor rock climbing, bike rides, orienteering – these are just a few of the things that you can do together as a group.
Investing time together as a family into being active is also a great way to build a stronger family connection. Plus, it helps keep everyone healthy!
5. Help them with practice
To get the most benefit out of sport (or any skill, for that matter!), kids need to practice on their own time, too. So as a parent or caregiver, it's important to give them the support they need.
Setting practice times helps give kids routine and – over time – also helps them see a real development in their abilities.
This will help them grow their skills for game time more effectively, while also allowing you to bond with them and provide direction for how they can develop their skills.
Learn more about getting your kids covered with Flip Insurance
Sponsored by Flip Insurance. When you're planning your next adventure, why not get cover with Flip? With on-demand accidental injury coverage, no-lock-in contracts and easy claims, it helps you get prepared for whatever life throws your way.*