How Families Are Keeping Active: Exploring Fitness Trends for Parents and Kids

As screens continue to capture kids' attention, parents are looking for ways to keep their children moving. From traditional sports like soccer to the rising trend of pickleball, families are finding creative approaches to balance exercise with technology. This report explores how parents are fostering healthy habits, managing the challenges of keeping kids engaged, and the impact physical activity has on their children's lives – both socially and academically.

Key Takeaways

• 84% of parents enroll their kids in physical activity, and 63% pay for lessons or coaching. 
• 1 in 10 parents exercise with their kids daily.
• 16% of kids play pickleball.
• Nearly 1 in 5 parents (17%) wish their community had more pickleball courts. 
• Kids who play pickleball average 20% less screen time per day than kids who don't.
• Parents of very physically active kids are 13% more likely than parents of less active kids to say that their kids have a strong social life.

How Active Are Kids and Parents?

Physical activity is a key part of a healthy lifestyle for kids, and many parents are proactive about keeping their children engaged in exercise. Let's take a closer look at how families make physical activity a part of their routines.

According to our survey, 84% of parents have enrolled their kids in physical activities, and 63% have paid for lessons or coaching to help them improve. Soccer ranked as the most popular organized sport, with kids starting to play at an average age of 5. In addition to structured activities, a third of parents said they exercise with their kids several times a week, and 1 in 10 do so every day.

Pickleball is America's fastest-growing sport and has become popular among all ages: 16% of kids and parents currently play the sport, most often a few times a month. More than half of parents (52%) said they play pickleball with their kids, and nearly 1 in 5 (17%) wished their communities had more pickleball courts. Interestingly, kids who played pickleball spent 20% less time on screens per day than those who didn't.

How Physical Activity Impacts Kids' Lives

Physical activity does more than just keep kids healthy – it can influence everything from their academic performance to their social lives.

Physically active kids tended to spend more time on homework and less time using screens than those who were less active. Parents of very active children were 13% more likely to say their children had a strong social life and 12% more likely to say their kids were happy than parents of less active children. Academically, 95% of moderately to very active kids earned As and Bs, slightly higher than the 91% of less active kids

Why Parents Engage Their Kids in Physical Activity

Parents have a variety of reasons for encouraging children to be active, likely influenced by their parenting styles and family goals. Let's examine what motivates parents and the obstacles some encounter.

Parents have primarily enrolled their kids in physical activities to keep them moving (80%), support their physical health (70%), and improve their social skills (53%). Additionally, 3 in 10 parents said they used physical activity to help reduce their children's screen time.

However, 22% of parents found that their kids preferred screen time over being active, which posed a challenge for many families. Other top challenges included kids being too tired after school or homework (29%), conflicting schedules (28%), and limited time after extracurricular activities (24%).

Building Healthy Habits for the Future

We know that keeping kids active can be a challenge, but it's clear the benefits are worth it. From playing soccer to trying out pickleball, families are finding ways to make fitness a fun part of everyday life. Not only are active kids healthier, but they also tend to have stronger social lives and do better in school. While balancing screen time and busy schedules isn't always easy, getting kids moving now can set them up for a happier, healthier future.

Methodology

We surveyed 1,000 Americans to examine trends in children's physical activity. Of the respondents, 99% were parents, and 1% were not; only parent responses were included in the analysis. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

About Prodigy Education

Prodigy Education is a global leader in game-based learning. Our mission is to help every student in the world love learning, motivating millions worldwide via fun, secure, and accessible curriculum-aligned gameplay experiences. At Prodigy Education, we believe maximizing student motivation helps develop a lifetime love of learning. Prodigy's approach to fun, game-based learning means kids no longer have to choose between homework and playtime. Visit www.prodigygame.com to learn more.

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