How can I get my kids to enjoy running?

It’s our favourite pastime, it keeps us fit and gives us a feeling of accomplishment. So, naturally, we all want to get our kids to fall in love with running.

I was no different.

Now my three-year-old can run for about a mile, with plenty of stopping and starting of course, and up and down hills if necessary.

He asks to join me when I head out on my weekly runs and asks for a debrief when I return. He even claps runners who pass us in the street, and often it wins him a smile in return.

Is this my doing? If so, how did I do it?

The first thing to say is that some children will never enjoy running. It may not suit their character or tastes, or it may conflict with other passions that they wish to pursue. That said, there’s no harm in taking first steps into the hobby, because sometimes to find the right path, we need to tread the wrong one.

So, if running makes a child realise they would really rather play another sport, or a team game like football/soccer, then that’s an achievement too.

Back to running.

My motivation for lacing up a pair of running shoes and heading out into the world may be very different to that of my little boy.

We can’t simply tell our toddlers “this activity will help you cultivate grit and stamina that you can take into other situations in life”.

No, their motivation is likely to be a lot simpler. But with a bit of preparation and patience you can get them interested in your favourite hobby.

The final piece of the puzzle, falling in love with running, is the part that we can’t plan for.

Like the Genie in Aladdin’s lamp, we can’t ask for more wishes and we can’t force someone to fall in love with running.

I’m pretty sure that was the quote.

We need to motivate them so that they will want to run. Then maybe one day they will love to run.

So, based on my first-hand experience…

Here are my top tips to get your kids to enjoy running:

1. Park Run. Before COVID stopped organised running events, my little boy accompanied me to Park Runs whenever we could manage it. In our home town, on holiday, visiting friends, he would join us at Park Run and get involved in the pre-race warm ups, high-fiving the runners and, of course, the post-race fuelling (coffee and bacon sandwiches). This is where he learned to clap for runners as they pass. The atmosphere is electric and inclusive. A perfect place to see runners in action.
2. Tell stories. When I return from my run I pull my son aside and tell him anything interesting I saw on my run. A dog jumped up at me, I saw a kestrel attack a rabbit, I fell over and cut my knee, I got lost, I saw wild horses. Whatever the story, I fill him in on the details. After a while it became a tradition and he would actively ask me what I expected to see on my run. One day, the magic words came: “maybe I could come running with you one day?”. Hell yes, I thought.
3. Role-play. Whenever he is feeling in an active mood I will tell him that “we are the runners!” We have to run to the door! Now we run to mummy! Now we run to the fridge! You’re the winner! Etc. Etc. The game evolved, at one point, to include the wearing of medals while we ran. Now that he uses a balance bike “I am the runner, and you are the rider”! Essentially, running became an exciting game of chasing round the house, and can easily be picked up whenever we are out and about on local trails.
4. Fast shoes. “These shoes make you even faster.” Yes, I’m preparing him for a lifetime of purchasing the latest Nike Zoom performance enhancing running shoes. But every time we buy him footwear he is made to understand that these will give him the edge over the competition. It’s great fun to see his eyes light up as he sprints to the kitchen in new shoes. I must highlight that we don’t buy him expensive shoes – he’s just growing at a rapid rate!

5. Be a runner. No amount of advice is going to get your 3 year old interested in a sport in which you are not regularly participating. He needs to see your excitement at finishing a good run. She needs to feel your joy at competing in a Park Run on Saturday morning.

I hope these are useful for any parent who needs some tips. These worked for me, but please do leave a comment with any additional tips from your experience and sports!