Childhood obesity is a huge problem. Obese children are at greater risk for diabetes, asthma, heart disease and psychological problems. So what does it take to raise a fit kid? The same two things it takes adults – diet and exercise. Here’s where things get more and more challenging. Particularly on the exercise front.
With the popularity of TV, Internet and video games, it’s no wonder kids aren’t as active as they used to be. Exercise is competing with 24 hours of cartoons and video games galore. Snack foods have always been and continue to be a problem but as kids are engaging in less activity, the snack foods are increasingly translating into added pounds.
Telling your child that he or she needs 60 minutes of moderate exercise while there is a cartoon on the television or telling them to eat a piece of fruit instead of chips doesn’t seem to be cutting it. Yes you need to know how much activity and what kinds of foods your child needs, but what you really need to do is to help your child shape and develop new habits.
Here is a general strategy to help your child develop health habits:
A SMARTTM Way To Help Your Child Be Active
- First, get your kids to set specific goals. Getting outside and just playing may not cut it. Have your child come up with some specific things they can do for a set amount of time. Maybe it’s kicking a soccer ball for 15 minutes, shooting baskets or swinging a bat. Having your child help you set goals will get them more involved. Once the goal is set, have your kids write it down. This will be a good reminder for both of you.
- Goals that have no concrete feedback aren’t worth much. Help your child to monitor their actions. Teach them to keep track of their activities and how much time they spent doing them. Talk about the progress your kids are making. If they’re meeting their goals, cheer on the hard work; if they’re not, find out why – it may be time to set a new goal.
- Third, arrange for success. This means you need to have them turn the TV off. If the Gameboy needs to be put up for a while then so be it. Make sure they have some things they need to be active, balls, toys etc. While there may be resistance to this, over time most kids will come along
- Fourth, recruit support. Get the whole family involved. This should be fun. Parents, here’s the deal. If you are sitting around inactive, not only is it bad for your health, it sends a very strong message to your kids. The whole “do as I say, not as I do” thing simply doesn’t work when it comes to helping kids develop good habits. Activity and healthy eating for yourself are two of the most important things you can do for your kids.
- Lastly, get your children to be more active by treating successes. We reward kids for good grades, why not for good health. If all goes well, your kids will be working hard to meet their goals. Show them you’ve noticed by giving them specific praise. This will make your children feel good, and it will make it more likely that they’ll keep up the hard work.
Try to work this SMART
TM system into your children’s lives. Whether it’s becoming more active or doing homework, motivation is important but it is not the whole answer. Knowing how to help kids change their habits and routines will help you to help them in all kinds of situation.
*The information contained in these articles is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always ask your physician or other qualified health professional about any matter concerning your individual health. Always seek the advice of your physician prior to starting or changing any medical treatment. Nothing contained in these answers is intended for medical diagnoses or treatment purposes.