Video games, television and computers have become an American pastime for our children. It’s no wonder so many young kids are struggling with their weight, but the actual statistics might shock you. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight or obese and the number continues to rise. It’s truly an epidemic in America, and you’ve got to take action if you want to improve the state of your child’s health. It can be truly difficult to get your child off the couch with all of the technological distractions, but if you’re creative, you should be able effectively persuade your kid to get up and out of the house.
1. Set a good example. Yes of course you should be worried about the health of you children, but you should also be concerned about your own. If you don’t have a regular exercise plan, then can’t expect your children to have one. Don’t be hypocritical and start working out if you haven’t already. Kids often learn by example, so show the importance of a healthy lifestyle and the amazing results that can occur through dedication and hard work.
2. Change the way they think about exercise. Rather than telling your child that they need to exercise, you should be trying to promote fun through physical activity. There are simple ways to do this. You can make it into a game by getting whole family involved in tag or a jump-rope contest. You can also plan an activity party. Rather than loading up on cake and junk food for your child’s next birthday party, plan a bowling outing or take the kids rock climbing.
3. Let them try out some extreme sports. This is the perfect alternative for kids that aren’t necessarily great at traditional sports. Ask them which sport they want to try, whether it is snowboarding or paintball, then load up on all the supplies they might need. You can also easily rent a snowboard or paintball gun, if you aren’t ready to invest a lot of money before your son or daughter gives the sport a try.
4. Establish a routine. There should be some form of physical activity everyday. Whether it be taking the dog for a walk or going for a bike ride after dinner. If they only exercise sporadically, it’s unlikely that they will be able to keep their weight down. It will also be harder for them to maintain an exercise routine later in life.
Keeping your kids active can be a challenge, but the hard work is necessary for your child’s physical and mental health. By altering the way they think about exercise and physical fitness, you will be able to keep them active for the rest of their lives.