Children seem to become more sedentary every year, watching television
and playing video games instead of biking to the playground or playing
football in the backyard with their pals. Kids need regular exercise to
build strong bones and muscles. Exercise also helps children sleep well
at night and stay alert during the day. Such habits established in
childhood help adolescents maintain healthy weight despite the hormonal
changes, rapid growth and social influences that often lead to
overeating. And active children are more likely to become fit adults.
 The forces behind the obesity epidemic have been operating for several decades. They're pretty well beyond your control. But you do have the power to give your children a lifelong appreciation for activities that strengthen their bodies.
Set a good example
If you want an active child, be active yourself. Take the stairs instead of the elevator and park the car further away from stores. Never make exercise seem a punishment or a chore. Find fun activities that the whole family can do together, such as:
- Swimming at water parks
- Hiking to hills
- Cycling during the weekends
- Walking in the park
In addition to
getting active, exercising together gives good family time. The key is
to get kids moving. Free-play activities such as playing tag,
hide-and-seek, hopscotch or jump-rope can be great for burning calories
and improving fitness as well.
Limit screen time
Watching television is directly related to childhood obesity. Children
who watch more than five hours of television a day are eight times more
likely to be obese than are children who watch less than two hours of
television a day.
A surefire way to increase your children's activity levels is to limit
the number of hours they're allowed to watch television each day. Other
sedentary activities — playing video and computer games or talking on
the phone — also should be limited.
Promote physical activity
Children don't have to be in sports or take dance classes to be active.
We all have certain strengths and certain anatomical features and
characteristics that permit us to do certain things better than others.
Many noncompetitive activities are available for a child who isn't
interested in organized athletics. The key is to find things that your
child likes to do. For instance, if your child is artistically inclined,
go on a nature hike to collect leaves and rocks that your child can use
to make a collage. If your child likes to climb, head for the nearest
neighborhood jungle gym or climbing wall. If your child likes to read,
then walk or bike to the neighborhood library for a book.
For a youngster interested in sports, however, involvement can be the
basis for a variety of activities, including training for better
performance and developing skills to play several sports.
Begin the journey now
By incorporating physical activity into our children's lives at an early
age, we are setting the foundation for good fitness habits in the years
to come. So, start moving now.
By Learning Edge Consultants (Tel: 603-42568909)
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