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* Find a My Gym for kids near your home now!
Monday, March 20, 2006
Childhood obesity is an ever increasing problem today, and it is imperative that parents and other adults lead by example by eschewing our sedentary lifestyle in favor of more active pursuits. While there has been a great deal of focus the last couple of decades on adult exercise, children have largely been ignored. For the health and well being of our children, we must teach our kids good habits and focus on exercises for children. Whereas adult exercises tend to focus more on cardio and/or weight control, exercises for children should be more holistic and fun, with the end goal being to instill a lifelong love of exercise within the child.
If left on their own, children are much more likely to engage in active play than adults. The most effective exercises for children are barely distinguishable from play. Parents should encourage their children to ride bikes, play hopscotch, play soccer, etc. Children are not as likely as adults to be willing to exercise for the sake of health; it must be presented to them as a fun pastime.
Apart from typical running and jumping games, it is sometimes appropriate to engage at risk kids in a more regimented exercise program, particularly for overweight children. It is important to keep in mind that their delicate tendons and ligaments have not yet fully formed, and exercises for children should be as low impact as possible in order to reduce long term damage.
Planning exercises for children is usually as easy as turning the kids loose in a park. For more at-risk children, exercises should be as low-impact as possible. It is up to parents and other adults to teach healthy habits and serve as positive role models.
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