Skip the Exercise Program and Make a Friend Instead

Article at a Glance

• Interacting with active children can make your child more active.
• Rather than invest in an expensive exercise program, try putting your child in a more active social group.

A recent study shows that interacting with active children can make your child more active. The study, published in Pediatrics, shows that children between the ages of 5 and 12 are more likely to be active if their friends are active.

In the study, the children didn’t form or end friendships based on activity levels, but instead made adjustments to their own activity levels to conform to their friends. And the biggest influence on how active children are is the activity level of their immediate friends. Other factors like obesity or gender had no effect on activity levels.

The study looked at 81 children between the ages of 5 and 12 who were in after-school programs.

Researchers are suggesting that rather than putting together an expensive exercise program for children who are struggling with weight issues, it may be more effective to put children in a more active social group. It is also a great way to help your children start healthy habits early in life.