If the answer is no, they are not getting the CDC’s recommended amount for youth. That means moderate-to-vigorous activity, with at least three of those days also involving exercise that strengthens muscles and bones.

Research shows that parents who are physically active are more likely to have physically active children. Be a role model, while also encouraging fun activities that you can enjoy together – from bike riding to a backyard catch.

Provide a child with the tools to play, on their own terms (not those of adults), and often they will. Unstructured play builds physical literacy and love of game, with intrinsic rewards that encourage further engagement.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents place consistent limits on time spent with media. Start by removing TVs from bedrooms. Research shows more than 1.5 hours of daily TV is a risk factor for obesity.

Most kids get funneled into the same, small handful of team sports. But there are 120 sports offered across the U.S., and some providers and sites might just be a few miles away. There’s a sport for every kid. Internet tools can help you explore.

Rock-climbing. Skiing. Snowshoeing. Martial arts. Archery. Individual sports can feel safe, especially for kids with special needs. Then there are more recreational team games, like Ultimate Frisbee.

Kids lacking physical confidence especially benefit from programs that foster a “mastery climate” in which development, not outcomes, is the goal. Ask programs for their mission statement -- and how they define success.

Want more inclusive, development-focused policies in youth sports that make room for kids like yours? Do something about it and run for a town recreation board or youth sport program board. Get in there and change things.

These settings can engage all kids. But they’re under-resourced. The median P.E. budget for schools is $764 per year. Encourage your school board to make P.E. and recess available on a daily basis, led by trained instructors.

Organized leagues today can be costly, and a full-season commitment can cause a kid who doesn’t like the sport to turn off to sports in general. Find programs and camps that offer sport sampling, ideally at low or no cost.