The most effective thing a parent can do is to be involved, even if it is 15 minutes of activity per day. I also recommend allowing children to be more involved in choosing and preparing foods. It may take a few minutes longer to get the food on the table, or shop, and the food may not be as presentable, but you will have created a strong positive association with both food and physical activity. Effective, long-term change starts with us as parents, slowing down as much as we can to change from the fast-food, sedentary lifestyle many of us currently have. Below are some activities you can do with your kids to influence them to be active:
Simple fun physical activities:
- Simply play with your children. Spend 10 -15 minutes daily playing race, tag, walking in the pool or throwing a ball around. Younger children want time with their parents and they will do just about anything to get it.
- Purchase a Wii game system and incorporate it into evening family time a few nights a week instead of watching television. This can be fun for all ranges of children!
- Get older children in an after-school program or community program. Time alone at home after school = time to snack.
- Get in the habit of taking your children somewhere that promotes activity most days of the week, even if it is 30 minutes a day to play at the play ground, pool or local play centers. I know many of you are tired, but not only will you feel better, but you will be creating a healthy active mindset for your children.
- Find your Bliss! Make a list of what you enjoy doing; it can be so much more than just hitting the treadmill.
Tags: active children, active families, childhood obesity, Gastric Band Institute of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Weight Loss Doctors, obesity, Parenting, Preventing Obesity, Prudence Ticknor
Hi Prudence,
I’m including another link in my blog to this article. You’ll crack up when you read my last blog entry, as I recommmend exactly the same thing.
Besides the positive physical effects of spending time with your kids playing, the emotional effects and contribution to establishing and improving on a positive, healthy attachment with your kids is unbelievable!
Maria Marinakis
http://www.10MinuteParenting.wordpress.com
[...] http://www.gastricbandlv.com/blog/2010/08/25/parenting-to-prevent-childhood-obesity-pt-2-teaching-yo... [...]