Parents are often advised to model good behavior for their kids.
While that usually refers to things like working hard, treating people with respect, and moderating our own screentime, it also applies to being active.
Our kids see what we do. They copy us.
You blurt out a bad word? Much to our dismay, they blurt out a bad word.
You live a healthy, active lifestyle? They’re more than likely follow suit.
A study published by Boston University found that children of two active parents were six times more likely to be active themselves versus families in which neither parent was active. The study states, “When both parents were active, 68% (19/28) of the children were active; when both parents were inactive, only 27% (8/30) of the children were active.”
Another study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health points to findings that the having active parents “contributes favorably to offspring’s physical activity from childhood to middle age.”
As a runner, you’re showing your children that you prioritize your health. And as a runner, you’re giving your children an example of someone who benefits far beyond living a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise. You’re showing them resilience, toughness, drive, consistency—these are all traits of every runner that extends far beyond physical health. They’re life traits that you’re passing on to your children by modeling good behavior simply by running.
You’re also showing them self-care, which is an important life skill that sometimes takes a backseat when we have children.
It can be hard to justify getting out for a run when you’re a new mom or dad of a baby, raising a toddler, or a parent of a kid any age. We put them first. Life is suddenly 1,000 times busier, somehow. If you find it challenging to carve out time for yourself to get in a run as a parent, keep this in mind: aside from running being good for you, seeing you running is good for your kids.
And with all the benefits of running pointing to stress reduction, greater self-confidence and improved overall mood, chances are high that you’re a better parent when you’re back from a run. It’s a win-win.
Making it Happen
If it seems difficult to squeeze in time for a run as a parent at any stage of your child’s or children’s lives, here are a few tips:
Parents of Babies/Toddlers:
- Invest in a stroller made for running. Jogging strollers saved me as a new mom. Many come with a converter that allows you to place a bucket car seat with the baby facing you when they’re young and then convert to a regular seat for older babies through toddler years.
- Consider an at-home treadmill, or gym daycare. My gym’s daycare also saved me as a new mom. Running on a treadmill either at home or at a gym that has daycare or allows you to park a baby’s car seat next to a treadmill while they sleep, can be a great way to get in some exercise.
Parents of School-age Kids:
- School! With kids in school from kindergarten on, your time frees up a bit. Working parents will still need to get creative. If you walk children to school, consider going for a quick run on your way home. Or if your child rides a bike to school, consider running next to them.
- They ride, you run: Kids generally enjoy riding bikes next to their parents who are running. This can be a great way for both of you to enjoy time outside together.
Parents of Kids in Activities, Any Age:
- Run during soccer practice, piano lessons, etc. Your child’s activity time, where another adult is in charge of their health and safety, is a great time to get in your run. Kids who play outdoor sports generally serve up a great arena for you to get in a run, as sporting venues tend to have trails, community paths, or at least laps around fields available. And kids in art or music or anything else give you time and space to get some exercise while they’re learning.
Raising Running Buddies
Some of my favorite memories with my boys—now both teenagers—is when we ran races together when they were young. We’d enter a 5K here and there, once as special as running through a Disney park pre-dawn, with my then 8-year-old in a Stormtrooper beanie and me in Princess Leia buns.
Just watching your own child tap into their inner competitiveness (or not) and following them as they weave in and out of crowds, discovering the joy of participating in an event while moving their body, is precious.
Racing with my kids has never been about racing. It’s always been about enjoying the scene and activity together. Both my sons occasionally participate in the Bolder Boulder 10K with friends and are in track season at their schools where they swear off distance events…which is fine!
Kids of runners certainly do not have to become runners. But raising children who see their parents run will more than likely instill healthy habits in them. And whatever they choose to do in their lives, they’ll do with resilience, toughness, drive, consistency…because they see you run.
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