Physical education has been a part of school’s curriculum for as long a we can remember. Young bodies need to be used for more than just playing video games. The type of activity is not what is important, it is just important for them to be active. There are many children who are overweight and the ranks of the overweight children is getting larger. If we do not change the culture that are kids are growing up with today, then are kids will be facing major difficulties in the future.
Childhood obesity is a major problem that is facing our kids. They are putting their bodies at risk for many complications from obesity. Children can be mean, and an obese child can be the target of teasing by other children which can lead to a host of other issues. Many of these issues can be reduced if kids are active, which does not mean that a kid has to do some six pack ab exercises every day, but it means that a kid needs to be outside playing something that will raise their heart rate some instead of sitting on a couch playing with some video games for a couple of hours a day. The NFL play 60 tells kids that they should spend one hour a day exercising and it will keep their body healthier. Parents can no longer count on their child’s school to provide the opportunity for our kids to get the exercise they need. If we expect our kids to be physically fit, it is our job to provide the opportunities for them to do what is needed.
If a parent is unsure how to get their kids away from the videos games and to get them active then they can find help on the internet through support groups like the biggest loser forum that offers discussion groups where a parent can find the support of others in the same situation. Local playgrounds provide a perfect opportunity for kids to get involved in different sports. Kids need to find something that interests them so they will want to do it on a regular basis. Joining a sports team might cause problems financially or with time and if that is the case then parents need to find the time to do something with their kids. With spring approaching the weather is getting nicer and the whole family can go out to the park together. It doesn’t matter if you throw a ball around or go out bike riding, spending time together as a family is priceless.
In addition to exercising, kids need to learn how to eat a nutritional diet. Parents should be aware of what types of food they are eating on a daily basis. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should not be missed. The meals should include foods from all of the major food groups and should have proper portion sizes. Kids should not learn that their dinner comes from a drive thru window.
Kids don’t need to diet to stay at a healthy weight, and they don’t need to learn how to lose weight fast, but they do need to learn that exercise and a proper diet is an important part of their life, just like taking a bath and brushing their teeth is important and it is something that must be a part of their life every day. If our kids can find out about the importance of diet and exercise when they are young, they can take those lessons into their adult life. It is our responsibility as parents to teach our kids how to do this.