So, as I have mentioned before, I am a mama to two amazing children which are both under the age of three. My husband and I are always concerned with them being healthy eaters, but we also have started thinking about the need to instill the value of being physically active within each of them now, so physical activity becomes a part of their everyday lives (for the rest of their lives).

As children, my husband and I were both fat kids. We loved cable, movies and video games but also enjoyed physical activities as most children do. Looking back, we both realize we spent too much time on the couch instead of on our bikes and have vowed to let this not be the case for our children.

But to help them be active, we have learned that WE need to be active and healthy. I have recently joined a gym to beat the battle of the post baby bulge, and have increased my everyday energy level so I can play with my kids when I get home from work instead of vegging out in front of our television.

Interested in making physical activity a part of your family’s life? Here are some tips on how to teach your children to be active:

Encourage physically demanding activity. Young children should have at least one hour of daily physical activity that gets their heart pumping. Whether it is running, jumping, climbing, lifting, digging or biking, motivate your kids by example. Challenge them to a race, join them for a game of hopscotch or teach them to help you do chores.

Help increase endurance and stamina. Stamina takes time and effort to build. Some children are just naturally wired to go, go, go but other kids need to be encouraged to exert themselves and their capabilities. Be patient and encouraging. Remember, not every child is an athlete, but if they enjoy an activity, let them have fun and don’t focus on their performance.

Be active inside too! Turn learning activities into active play. Set up an area in a room or basement that has room for them to climb, jump, dance, move, etc.

Engage their senses. Young children are sensory learners. All senses must be engaged to really process info. Think of activities that reach beyond seeing and hearing to involve your child in touching and tasting.

Explore new skills with your child. Most children like challenges and trying new things. Encourage your little ones to practice challenging tasks like learning yoga, taking a karate class, participating in a track and field day or whatever they may be interested in. It may take a while to find the right activity for your child, but the chance of them continuing on with it heavily relies on their fondness for it. Talk to them, find out what they like and actually listen!

Whether it is taking our dogs on a walk every night, having morning dance parties, teaching our toddler to help us in the garden or strolling around the park, we are finding more and more ways for them to be engaged, entertained and active. From former fat kids to active adults, we are trying our best to help them be healthy for the rest of their lives.

Tagged as: Childhood obesity, examples, kids, physical activity

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Since 2007, Nemours Health and Prevention Services has been working on a statewide campaign to address the childhood obesity epidemic in Delaware. The primary goal of the Campaign to Make Delaware’s Kids the Healthiest in the Nation, has been to help children and families eat healthy and be physically active. One component of the campaign has been the development of the Mighty Timoneers, an animated series that Nemours created to inspire and excite children, ages 6 – 11, about living the 5-2-1-Almost None Healthy Lifestyle in a fun, interactive and engaging way.

The next phase of this Campaign is the launch of The Timoneers Challenge – a game in which children complete various missions designed around Nemours’ 5-2-1-Almost None healthy lifestyle message. The Timoneers Challenge, set to launch in June 2010, provides the opportunity to get families living 5-2-1-Almost None by creating experiences and activities that help kids to be physically active and eat healthy.

The Timoneers Challenge is a perfect example of the power of engaging community partners – such as schools and youth serving organizations – in the effort to end childhood obesity. Elementary schools throughout Delaware will distribute the Challenge Activity Guides to students and the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club and the 4-H Club will incorporate the Challenge into their summer programming. Nemours also is continuing to identify additional community organizations throughout the state to run the Challenge and will air TV and radio spots to promote the game. We look forward to the Challenge and to seeing the results. View the Campaign to Make Delaware’s Kids the Healthiest in the Nation.

Tagged as: Childhood obesity, community, game, healthy eating, physical activity, schools, youth serving organizations

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I read an article recently about a great initiative by Playworks, an organization that promotes opportunities for physical activity in our nation’s poorest neighborhoods. They’ve developed a pilot program called Recess Coaches, where volunteers teach elementary school kids not only how to play various games, but how to lead the games and play fairly. Their aim is to promote activity while also teaching “life skills.” Playworks has been running this program at a school in Philly, a city where 57% of kids, and 70% of African American and Latino kids, are either obese or overweight. I look forward to learning more about their success at the William Dick School in North Philly and at their other sites across the country.

Tagged as: Childhood obesity, overweight, physical activity, schools

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Now here is a pretty powerful angle on why combating childhood obesity is so important: A group of retired officers asserted recently that high-calorie school lunches are making our kids fat, and therefore hindering these kids’ ability to meet the military’s physical fitness standards. This group of officers from Mission Readiness have published a study, titled “Too Fat to Fight,” citing that 27% of Americans ages 17-24 are too overweight to join the military. Not surprisingly, this group is a heavily in favor of the school lunch bill now in the Senate.

Tagged as: Childhood obesity, Government, military, Mission Readiness, physical activity, School Lunch Bill, school lunches, Too Fat To Fight, USA

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