Enforcing Exercise

There are so many temptations today that pull at kids and lure them away from daily physical exercise. These temptations come in various shapes and forms: I-Pods, computer games, board games, TV, PSPs, etc and although each of these products are not bad they do however take away from physical exercise if kids are using them incessantly. Many parents do not take the time to enforce daily exercise for their children because they either are too busy or they feel that the daily allotted exercise amount is reached during physical education class. Nothing can be further from the truth! When current research says that our children in America are becoming increasingly more overweight at earlier ages, it is time for parents to take notice! Of course, diet does play a role in determining the weight and size of a child, but there is nothing better, more productive in helping kids remain healthy than a good dose of outdoor activity each day.

When I was younger, in the summers my mother used to kick us five kids out of the house by 9 AM every morning and we weren't allowed to come back inside until lunch and then we were promptly thrown back outside until dinner. We could bring a book to read if we desired but mostly my summer days were spent playing kickball, basketball, baseball, soccer, tag, and make-believe scenarios with my siblings and neighborhood kids. I was never bored, that is for sure, and I never lacked an imagination! Parents today could stand to be a little bit more like my mom and although I realize I was lucky to have a stay-at-home mother, children should still be forced to exercise and play outside even if they have a baby-sitter or other childcare giver while the parents are at work.

TV has become the substitute for parenting or caring for children in many households throughout the United States and it is for these children that I pity for they are losing out on the fun and imagination of being outdoors and forced to devise new games to keep them entertained. Enforcing exercise does not mean ignoring your children and shoving them outdoors until you feel like being with them but rather parents should partake in the physical activities with their children. Role modeling will not only show that you feel strongly about physical exercise but it also increases the amount of time spent with your child and that is what is of utmost importance. Parents are the best role models for their children and because most parents do not have the option to stay at home all day and home-school their children, it is that much more important for families to participate in exercise together.

Some activities which draw families closer together while having fun and exercising:
playing tag
playing soccer
playing kickball
playing basketball
playing baseball
riding bikes
hiking
taking a walk
doing yard work
playing at the pool/beach
name your own idea!

All children desire to spend time with their parents and exercising together as a family is the perfect opportunity to cultivate love in the family as well as creating a happy, healthy family. May you and your family have an amazing exercise-filled spring, summer, fall, and winter!