| Are you surprised to know that one out of three | | | | watching birds. They want to end children's |
| kids are now considered overweight or obese in | | | | alienation from nature, and what they believe are |
| the United States? Much of what we eat is quick | | | | the adverse effects on child development. When |
| and easy - from fat-laden fast food to | | | | children play in nature, whether it's in a wooded |
| microwave and prepackaged meals. Daily | | | | park or a playground, Elmasry says they tend to |
| schedules are so jam-packed that there's little | | | | invent their own games and are more likely to |
| time to prepare healthier meals or to squeeze in | | | | play collectively. "When kids get outside, their |
| some exercise. Portion sizes, in the home and out, | | | | activity runs wild." |
| have drastically increased. Plus, now, more than | | | | Tips for Parents |
| ever, life is sedentary - kids spend more time | | | | Here are some tips to encourage your children to |
| playing with electronic devices, from computers to | | | | be more physically active. |
| handheld video game systems, than actively | | | | - Set a positive example by leading an active |
| playing outside. Television is a major culprit. | | | | lifestyle yourself, and make physical activity part |
| Kids younger than 6 spend an average of 2 hours | | | | of your family's daily routine such as designating |
| a day in front of a screen, mostly watching TV | | | | time for family walks or playing active games |
| or videos. Older kids and teens spend almost 4 | | | | together. |
| hours a day watching TV or videos. When | | | | - Provide opportunities for children to be active by |
| computer use and video games are included, time | | | | playing with them. Give them active toys and |
| spent in front of a screen increases to over | | | | equipment, and take them to places where they |
| 5½ hours a day! Kids who watch more | | | | can be active. |
| than 4 hours a day are more likely to be | | | | - Offer positive reinforcement for the physical |
| overweight compared with kids who watch 2 | | | | activities in which your child participates and |
| hours or less. The worst part of all is that during | | | | encourage them as they express interest in new |
| their youth, overweight children and adolescents | | | | activities. |
| are more likely to have risk factors associated | | | | - Make physical activity fun. Fun activities can be |
| with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood | | | | anything the child enjoys, either structured or |
| pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) | | | | non-structured. They may range from team |
| than are other children and adolescents. | | | | sports, individual sports, and/or recreational |
| Overweight children and adolescents are more | | | | activities such as walking, running, skating, |
| likely to become obese as adults. For example, | | | | bicycling, swimming, playground activities, and |
| one study found that approximately 80% of | | | | free-time play. |
| children who were overweight at aged 10-15 | | | | - Ensure that the activity is age appropriate and, |
| years were obese adults at age 25 years. | | | | to ensure safety, provide protective equipment |
| Another study found that 25% of obese adults | | | | such as helmets, wrist pads, and knee pads. |
| were overweight as children. The latter study also | | | | - Find a convenient place to be active regularly. |
| found that if overweight begins before 8 years of | | | | - Limit the time your children watch television or |
| age, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more | | | | play video games to no more than two hours per |
| severe. | | | | day. Instead, encourage your children to find fun |
| American children spend too much time indoors | | | | activities to do with family members or on their |
| watching television! | | | | own that simply involve more activity (walking, |
| According to Faiza Elmasry in her article titled | | | | playing chase, dancing). |
| "Parents Urged to Let Children Play Outside", | | | | Outdoor playhouses provide hours of fun for kids |
| American children are spending more and more of | | | | while promoting exercise and healthy habits all at |
| their leisure time indoors -- watching TV, playing | | | | the same time. Even on a rainy day, an outdoor |
| video games and chatting with friends on line. | | | | Vinyl Playhouse can become a secret fort, a |
| That concerns many child development experts | | | | dollhouse or a ship at sea. Parents don't have to |
| and others who would rather encourage them to | | | | spend a fortune on a tree house or a fancy club |
| be outside hiking, climbing trees, riding bikes and | | | | house to get their kids to enjoy the outdoors. |