How Kids Can Keep Fit Every Day
Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic that can lead to serious health problems. Children should learn to keep fit, active and healthy and learn the importance of healthy diets and regular exercise. This will result in a happier childhood and lead to a healthier adulthood.
Instructions
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Exercise on a regular basis with your child --- once a day for about 30 minutes. This will get your child into the exercise routine, making it just another part of the day.
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Make exercise fun. Most children do not have the attention span to run, swim or perform any kind of repetitive movement for 30 minutes at a time. Rather, play running games such as tag, have races or play sports with kids. You can also design circuit-training programs in your home by making stations with activities at each one, such as lifting cans or bottles over their heads, doing jumping jacks, or carefully running up and down the stairs.
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Set up a reward system, where a child accumulates points for exercising each day. Let a child cash in these points for rewards that appeal to him such as a new toy or a trip to the movies. Do not, however, use junk food as a reward.
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Do not keep junk food in the house. Instead, encourage snacking on fruits and vegetables by keeping these foods in an easily accessible place such as a refrigerator shelf or drawer that's at your child's level.
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Serve at least two vegetables with every meal, and avoid simple carbohydrates such as white bread.
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Encourage portion control by asking your children to wait for a few minutes before they get a second helping. It can take up to 20 minutes for the brain to register that the body has had enough to eat. This is not to say that they should be allowed only one helping, but that they should make sure they are actually hungry before they eat more.
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