Paralympian Lisa Adams shares 10 tips to keep kids off the couch these Christmas holidays

While many of us are heading to the bach, crib or campground to wind down after a hectic year, for parents the suggestion of a stress-free break is simply laughable.     

Avoid the screens, save your sanity and get them running by creating a challenge that gets their steps and confidence up. 

Gold-medal winning Para shot-putter Lisa Adams has teamed up with the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon and recommends challenging your tamariki with a personal goal for the holidays.

Here are her top tips for kids for getting it done:

1. Have fun!
   The Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is a rite of passage for Kiwi kids and they’ve been running for more than 30 years and are always loads of fun! Turn your training into a game or plan to train with friends or your family – it’s a lot more exciting when everyone is involved and will help keep you motivated.

2. Get a good night’s sleep every night
   Getting enough sleep is one important thing you need to do, especially if you are doing more physical activity than you are used to. Sleep gives your body time to recover, conserve energy, and repair and build up the muscles worked during exercise.

3. Set mini goals to get to your end goal
   It’s a good idea to set a goal before you start a big or new challenge. Your goal may be to complete the entire TRYathlon without stopping but you’ll have to start small. Whatever your goal is, write it down and work out the steps that are going to get you there.

4. Just give it a go
   It doesn’t matter how you do, as long as you try!

5. Eat a nutritious breakfast
   Make sure you’re fuelling your body with the good stuff every morning. Wholegrains and milk are great fuel to help you be active – add some fruit for a delicious and nutritious brekkie.

6. Make sure you eat fruit and veggies every day
   Healthy eating will help make sure you have the energy you need to train. Fruit and veggies have lots of vitamins and minerals that your body needs to grow and be strong and healthy.

7. Practise with friends and family 
   Training together with your friends and family can make it much more fun. My sister Valerie (you might know her as Dame Valerie Adams) is my coach and she helps me be the best I can be, while having loads of fun!

8. Drink lots of water throughout the day
   Your body needs fluids to work well, so prep a water bottle and sip on it all day and heaps more while you train.

9. Make sure your shoes are tied up well and they’re supportive
   Check your footwear before you start running and cycling to make sure they’re safe and comfortable.

10. Wear sunscreen if you’re training outdoors
    Slip, slop, slap and wrap!

Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon 2023 dates: