Child's play

It's not always easy dragging the kids away from the television or PlayStation and getting them moving. Laura Hewson talks to three Otago families who have found a winning formula.

• Lead children on to correct exercise path
• Feed your children well, and the benefits will last their lifetime

• The Flannery family of Alexandra: George and Julie, Ella (7), Mia (4) and Ana (2)

What do you do to be active? Julie plays hockey and George is training for the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge at the end of November.

"We all go to the bike park together with the small kids in carts behind," says Julie.

"It's setting up good habits for the future."

What do the kids do?
Ella has a busy life including ballet, performing arts, singing and gymnastics.

"At the moment the after-school activities are just her but the others all try and do it too.

"In winter Ella plays mini hockey and it's like a family outing - every second week they play somewhere different - Alex, Wanaka, Omakau, Ranfurly or Cromwell. We all go."

Ella goes to practice once a week and all the girls have sticks and play on the lawn.

"Mia will start ballet soon and hockey next year. We wouldn't make them play [hockey] but if they play together, it suits me better," says Julie.

What are the benefits of being active?
"It gives them life experiences to draw on. The kids from an early age know they have to practise. And they're always pretending to do things. It also keeps them fit and healthy."

What about in winter?
"There's no problem getting the kids outside. The younger girls aren't really into watching TV. From when they were little they always went out for a walk to the park. It doesn't matter if it's cold or hot. It's still fun to do as adults."

Do you have to spend money?
"Ella's involved in so many activities, but it's not all about the money. It costs nothing to have a good time with the kids. They love collecting birds' nests and walking on the beach picking up shells. They're happy in the sandpit and on the trampoline. We went to the pool the other day and it only cost $6 for all of us. It's not about all these things that cost a fortune."

Any advice for other parents?
"Set an active example. They see Daddy biking and they want to do the same."

• The Wolf family of Dunedin: Andrea and Brent, Brittany (12), Nathan (10) and Max (7)

What do you do to be active?
Andrea walks two or three mornings a week. Brent, a former PE teacher, coaches volleyball.

"Setting an active example makes a difference," says Brent.

"They don't do what I do. They're interested in their own sports and we encourage them to do the things they like."

What do the kids do?
All three swim and are part of the St Clair Surf Life Saving Club.

Brittany does jazz dance, plays netball and rippa rugby. Nathan plays rugby, rippa rugby, mini ball (like basketball) and hockey. Max joins in with all of them and also plays football.

"We have a holiday place near Duntroon - right on the Shag River," says Brent.

"They swim in the river, go canoeing and hold triathlons where they canoe, bike and run. We put up the badminton net. The kids bring friends along and they join in too."

It isn't all about sport for the kids.

"They watch TV and play on the computer but they have boundaries. They have to finish their school work and do whatever else first," says Brent.

How do you find the time for all these activities?
"We think it's important so we make the effort to make it happen. We get out and we take them around and do these things with them," says Brent.

"We enjoy watching them participate."

As well as watching, Andrea coaches jump jam, while Brent coaches swimming, surf life-saving and mini ball.

"It hasn't put them [the kids] off yet," he jokes.

What about in winter?
"Cold isn't a reason. Just put on extra gear - it's no big deal. Swimming is never cancelled."

What are the benefits of being active?
They learn skills from team sports and learn to get along with other people, says Brent.

"They're enjoying school and activities. The reports come back and they're all good kids."

A bit of success also "reinforces success", he says, for example beating their own time in swimming.

"They learn the secret of being good is doing it more than anybody else."

Any advice for other parents?
"Be encouraging and positive. Start slowly. With swimming we started with lessons once a week for half an hour. Then they joined the surf club and wanted to be better swimmers. It led from that. When they were kids we went for walks - we did that a lot. Then they got bikes. There are low-key things you can do by yourselves."

• The Buxton family of Milton: Nathan and Celia, Barjonah (6), Asher (5), Jessica (2) and Milton (3 months)

What do you do to be active?
"I walk the dog and the kids bike with me when I push the pushchair, which also encourages the younger children. t helps to have a friend or someone to go walking or swimming with the little ones."

What do the kids do?
"Most children want to be outside," Celia says.

"They do a lot without encouragement - going to the park, biking, skateboarding. They play tag or hide and seek and climb trees. The older children are in a football club which takes a commitment from us. There are games and practice once a week and they work on their ball skills during the season.

"As a family we go to the beach or park, fly a kite, kick a ball around."

They also have swimming lessons with the school and take part in holiday swimming programmes.

"It can be hard to manage - there are so many of us," she says.

What about in winter?
"When the weather's bad it's not motivating. Take the step to get out of the house so it's not so claustrophobic. Wrap the kids up and go. Once you go you always enjoy it and you feel good after."

Any advice for other parents?
"Once you pay the money for an activity you're more committed. If the pocket's there, the heart soon follows."