Dec 27 2008
Keep your child active
Children seem to become more sedentary every year, watching TV and playing video games instead of playing outdoor sports with their friends. Even schools have stopped emphasizing fitness.
Children need regular exercise to built strong bones and muscles. Besides, exercise also helps them sleep well and night and stay alert and be fresh during the day. If such habits are established in childhood, it will help them during adolescence when they undergo rapid growth. It will also help them to avoid overeating due to social influences.
In the recent survey, it was concluded that in the past 30 years the childhood obesity rate has tripled in the US leading to more number of children with diabetes.
As a parent, here’s what you can do.
#1 Limit screen time. Make sure that your child is not glued to the TV or playing video games. Keep an eye on the time he spends talking on the phone as well.
#2 Children usually hate exercising. Let them do whatever activity they like which involves movement. For example, if they are interested in soccer, make sure you encourage them.
#3 Start at a young age. It’s easier to mould a child’s interest. So, make sure you encourage them to take part in sports at an early age.
#4 The golden rule is to set a good example. Children usually copy what their parents do. Be active yourself. Use the stairs. Swimming helps too. If you aren’t really into sports, dancing helps too.
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