Keeping Your Family and Children Active: The Foundation for a Healthy Lifestyle

Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States, and the main reason for this is that children are not nearly as active as they should be. Add to this the poor dietary habits and one can understand why between 16% to 33% of the children and adolescents are obese across the nation (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.) Thirty percent of the children in 30 out of the fifty American states are overweight or obese (Trust for America’s Health.)

A large number of the children and adolescents do not fulfill the recommended physical activity requirements. According to experts, children should accumulate from a minimum of sixty minutes, up to several hours of physical activity each day. Since active behaviors have been replaced with more sedentary lifestyles over the last two decades, there is fewer energy expenditure pastimes enjoyed by the children, which lead to obesity. Unless there is appropriate activity engagement, chances are greater that the current generation will lead less healthy lives as adults when compared to that of their parents.

In a 2001 study carried out by the California Department of Education, it was found that there is a direct link between how students perform on literacy and math tests and their performance on physical fitness measures. Physical activity can have beneficial effects on academic performance, symptoms of anxiety and depression and self-concept. In further studies, it has been determined that there is a 70% chance that overweight adolescents will become overweight adults. Dr. Stephen Sanders, author, professor, and director of the School of Physical Education and Exercise Science at the University of South Florida is a member of the Primrose Schools Education Advisory Board.  He says that children do not necessarily learn physical skills on their own; they need guidance from parents and adults. Regular physical activity by parents and children alike can lead to a longer, healthier life with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

There are a number of things parents can do help instill the importance of being physically active in their children. By carrying out the fun-filled activities below, parents can create an environment that is both healthy for all members of the family and entertaining. More importantly, they will help to implant healthy habits of physical activity in their children, which they will carry with them into their adulthood.

There is nothing like a friendly competition to get children motivated. Turning a simple walk into a friendly race or turning tossing the ball into a game with a score and a winner makes it more fun. Converting a simple dance party into an American idol-type affair, with points for special moves, can help children with new skills. Run, walk or participate in a car wash for the benefit of a charity or a good cause the whole family is passionate about. Besides a feel-good message that is shared by the whole family, it provides a great inspiration and much needed physical activity. Get involved in family oriented sports like swimming, skiing, flying a kite, miniature golf or organize a basketball game. Help to clean up a local park by picking up trash – it not only takes care of the physical activity aspect, but helps to instill the concept of giving to the community and being responsible for cleaning our own environment.

The time spent with children helps to strengthen adult-child relationships in a healthy family home. Children require time and attention from adults just as much as they need food and physical activity. If it is missing, then children will seek other ways of getting the time and attention, which frequently results in negative behavior and puts stress on relationships. Special time does not happen out of the blue – it has to be carefully and consciously planned. Once the effort has been made and the time invested in the children, it will be well rewarded in terms of stronger relationships and better health for the whole family.

The engagement of children and adolescents in physical activity is of utmost priority as there is a very high risk of overweight adolescents becoming obese when they are adults. Treating adult obesity puts a heavy burden on medical and financial resources. If there is a way to prevent childhood and/or adult obesity, we should do it. So get up, and get active!

Submitted by Dan Gilbert on behalf of Primrose Schools. For over 25 years, they have helped individuals achieve higher levels of success by providing them with an AdvancED® accredited, early child care services, preschool facilities and education.  Through an accelerated Balanced Learning® curriculum, Primrose Schools students are exposed to a widely diverse range of subject matter giving them a much greater opportunity to develop mentally, physically and socially. Dan has written a number of articles on topics varying from bilingual learning to teaching the importance of volunteering.

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