How Many Steps Per Day Do Children Need?

With childhood obesity skyrocketing in countries around the world, researchers asked how much activity a child needs to be in a healthy body composition zone. Pedometers easily measure how much a child is moving between activities and play, and these "lifestyle steps" can be enough to keep a child in a healthy weight zone.

How Many Steps a Child Needs

Studies showed that for 6–12 year olds, girls needed 12,000 steps/day and boys needed 15,000 steps/day to stay in a healthy Body Mass Index - BMI. The study reviewed research of almost 2000 children in the USA, Australia, and Sweden. The study was published in the June, 2004 "Preventative Medicine" by Catrine Tudor-Locke Ph.D. and associates.

Small Steps Add Up

While diet contributes to childhood obesity, activity seems to be the key for a child to grow with a healthy weight. Parents can make a game of increasing activity by giving their child a pedometer and encouraging them to increase their daily steps. Steps will be counted when a child walks, runs or jumps, although not while biking or skateboarding.

Make it a Family Game

Counting steps is not just for kids. Buy a pedometer for each member of your family and have a healthy competition. The first week, simply track average steps. The second week, reward each person who increases their daily steps by 2000. Continue the next week rewarding those who increase them another 2000 until they reach the goal of 10,000 for adults, 12,000 for girls and 15,000 for boys. Have a big celebration when anyone reaches those major goals.

Track Your Steps

Programs such as Webwalking USA are perfect for children and families - track your steps on a virtual walk across the USA.

More on Step Counting

Ways to Add 2000 More Steps Per Day
Choosing and Using a Pedometer
Pedometer Walking Programs