We really are our kid’s best example. While we strive to make healthy changes to our lifestyle, we should be making sure that our children embrace the same desire. If we don’t pass on a healthy lifestyle to our children, then we are just setting them up for future health problems, let alone self esteem issues.
Obesity is a real problem in this country and it is becoming an increasingly significant problem amongst children. It is easier for children to not be active—computers, television, video game systems, iPods and the like are drawing children to become couch potatoes.
As parents we should be limiting the amount of time our children are doing inactive “activities.” We should be encouraging them to get outside, take up a sport and even work out with us. That is one of the reasons I really enjoy my Wii Fit Plus. It makes exercising fun for the entire family.
Parents, our children are watching us. They are watching what we eat, how often and how active or inactive we are. We are living examples. We can’t preach one thing but live another. They are more likely to emulate the behavior they actually see us doing, not what comes out of our mouths.
Think of some creative ways that can get your children off the couch. You could make one day a week family fitness day, where everyone goes out for a bike ride, swimming or hiking. Another idea is to move all of the furniture out of the way and set up an obstacle course. You could do this outdoors when the weather is nice.
Or just turn on some music and dance away. You will be having fun but working up a sweat as well. Not only do these ideas incorporate exercise but they create fun family memories.
One final thought…don’t ever use exercise as a punishment. “Drop and give me 10” should never come out of your mouth. Exercise is supposed to be something we enjoy, not something we are punished with.