I have seen several parents at the YMCA who come in and tell us their kid is overweight and they want to get them help, but their kid doesn't want to exercise.

How can parents encourage their kids without "making" them exercise if they don't want to:

1) Role-modeling good behavior is the best way to get your kids interested in exercise. If you don't exercise, why should your child? Plus, if you take your kid to the gym and don't let them bring anything with them and say they don't have to exercise, they can just sit there if they want then they will eventually get bored and look to exercise to cure their boredom.

2) Offer incentives like trips to somewhere fun when they reach milestones. This instills goal setting and if done properly, it can show them how much easier and more fun it is to do things when you are in shape. Never use food as a reward, this is a self-defeating proposition. I'll get you ice-cream if you work out is wrong on so many levels. Food for comfort is where many of us have slipped up in our own lives; please don't start your kids down that path!

3) Make exercise fun. The Wii is a great start or physical games as opposed to running. I like swimming now, but swimming laps sound so boring as a kid... now playing marco polo or shark and minows is hours of fun... Keep it fun and they will want to do it... make it boring and you're in trouble.

I think role modeling is key here. IF you start out with your kids young being active with them, chances are they won't know any better and will grow into being active.

That's a great tip!! If that strategy doesn't work...you've got one stubborn kid for sure!!