Physical activity has multiple, far reaching effects that last into adulthood. For example, the physical training in a typical soccer practice helps reduce a girl’s risk for depression while the strength training in that same practice will increase long-term skeletal health.

A commitment to physical activity is an investment in the future. Active girls do better academically, behaviorally and holistically.

Despite these and other known benefits, girls today may be the first generation to have a shorter life expectancy than their mothers due to a lack of sport participation and physical activity.

But we can change that.

Here are a few tips on how to keep your girls active:

  1. Host your own play day for your girls and their friends. Playing together with other girls in their own backyard not only gets your girls active, it also helps them navigate relationships and make memories that will last a lifetime.
  2. Sign your girls up for a local Play Like a Girl sports club or athletic team every season of the year. Play basketball in the winter–and softball in the spring. Take swimming in the summer. And run track in the fall.  These are all great ways for girls to sample a variety of sports while being active year-round.
  3. Be your girls’ role model with a weekly sweat session of your own. If you’re not an athlete who’s mastered a particular sport, you can always take a fitness class or simply schedule time for a brisk walk or run in your neighborhood.
  4. Watch a television series like HBO’s Being Serena together to introduce your girls to strong, active women of all ages and backgrounds. Change their perspectives about remaining active as they age.
  5. Start early. The first 10 years of life are game-changing. These early years provide a critical window for creating a lifelong commitment to physical activity.