| Children are more sedentary than ever, | | | | than five hours of television a day are eight |
| watching television and playing video games | | | | times more likely to be obese than are |
| instead of biking to the playground or | | | | children who watch less than two hours of |
| playing kickball in the backyard with their | | | | television a day. |
| pals is a major cause. And even schools have | | | | |
| stopped emphasizing fitness, in some school | | | | A surefire way to increase your children's |
| districts, physical education has vanished | | | | activity levels is to limit the number of |
| completely because of under-funding. | | | | hours they're allowed 'screen time' each day. |
| | | | When children are bored they find things to |
| Kids need regular exercise to build strong | | | | do. 3 Promote Activity, not Exercise |
| bones and muscles. Exercise also helps | | | | |
| children sleep well at night and stay alert | | | | Of course sports and other organized |
| during the day. Such habits established in | | | | activities are a great way to keep your kid |
| childhood help adolescents maintain healthy | | | | moving however, kids don't have to be in |
| weight despite the hormonal changes, rapid | | | | sports or take dance classes to be active. |
| growth and social influences that often lead | | | | Every kid is wired differently. We all have |
| to overeating. And active children are more | | | | certain strengths and characteristics that |
| likely to become fit adults. | | | | permit us to do certain things better than |
| | | | others. Many noncompetitive activities are |
| As childhood has become more sedentary, | | | | available for a child who isn't interested in |
| children have put on weight - lots of it. In | | | | organized athletics. |
| the past 30 years, the rate of childhood | | | | |
| obesity has more than tripled, leading to a | | | | The key is to find things that your child |
| dramatic increase in the number of children | | | | likes to do. For instance, if your child is |
| with type 2 diabetes, a disease once limited | | | | artistically inclined, go on a nature hike to |
| to sedentary, overweight adults. | | | | collect leaves and rocks that your child can |
| | | | use to make a collage. If your child likes to |
| You do have the power to give your children a | | | | climb, head for the nearest neighborhood |
| lifelong appreciation for activities that | | | | jungle gym or climbing wall. If your child |
| strengthen their bodies. | | | | likes to read, then walk or bike to the |
| | | | neighborhood library for a book. 4 Start |
| Follow these tips to keep your kid active: 1 | | | | Young |
| Set a good example | | | | |
| | | | Remember your energetic toddler? Direct that |
| If you want an active child, be active | | | | energy into a lifelong love of physical |
| yourself. Take the stairs instead of the | | | | activity. By incorporating physical activity |
| elevator and park the car farther away from | | | | into our children's lives at an early age, |
| stores. Never make exercise seem like a | | | | you are setting the foundation for good |
| punishment or a chore. Find fun activities | | | | fitness habits in the years to come. For |
| that the whole family can do together, such | | | | instance, have your child show you how |
| as: | | | | bunnies hop, eagles fly or dogs wag their |
| | | | tails. |
| · Swimming | | | | |
| | | | Some other suggestions for keeping kids |
| · Nature hikes | | | | interested: |
| | | | |
| · Bike riding | | | | · Play games your elementary school child |
| | | | loves, like tag, cops and robbers, Simon says |
| · Canoeing | | | | and red light, green light. If you don't |
| | | | remember the rules for these games, make up |
| · Walks with the family dog | | | | your own or walk to your local library and |
| | | | check out a book on games. |
| · Playing Tag | | | | |
| | | | · Let your toddlers and preschoolers see |
| · Dancing | | | | how much fun you can have while being active. |
| | | | Don't just run with them. Run like a gorilla. |
| · Hopscotch | | | | Walk like a spider. Hop like a bunny. Stretch |
| | | | like a cat. |
| · Jump-rope | | | | |
| | | | · Plan your family vacations around |
| · Hide & Seek | | | | physical activities - hiking, biking, skiing, |
| | | | snorkeling, swimming or camping. Take along a |
| If mom and dad exercise, it's a very powerful | | | | ball or Frisbee disc to sneak in some |
| message for a child to exercise. In addition | | | | activity at rest stops. |
| to getting active, exercising together gives | | | | |
| you good family time. The goal is to get kids | | | | · Make chores a family affair. Who can |
| moving, whatever the activity. 2 Limit | | | | pull the most weeds out of the vegetable |
| 'Screen Time' | | | | garden? Who can collect the most litter in |
| | | | the neighborhood? Have your kids help shovel |
| There are a lot of reasons why children are | | | | the snow off the driveway and use that excess |
| less active today, but the biggest culprit is | | | | snow to build a huge snow fort. |
| the television set, followed closely by video | | | | |
| games and computers, these activities | | | | · Vary the activities. Let each child take |
| encourage a sedentary lifestyle by limiting | | | | a turn choosing the activity of the day or |
| movement for long periods of time. | | | | week. Batting cages, bowling and restaurant |
| | | | play areas all count. What counts is that |
| Watching television is directly related to | | | | you're doing something active as a family. |
| childhood obesity. Children who watch more | | | | |