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Kids are more sedentary than ever, watching television and playing video games instead of biking to the playground or playing kickball within the backyard with their pals is certainly a major trigger. And even schools have stopped emphasizing fitness, in some school districts, physical education has disappeared totally because of under-funding.Kids require regular exercise to develop strong bones and muscles. Exercise also helps kids sleep well at night and stay alert throughout the day. Such habits established in childhood assist adolescents have healthy weight despite the hormonal changes, rapid growth and social influences that often result in overeating. And active kids are more likely to turn into fit adults.

As childhood has become more sedentary, children have put on weight - lots of it. In the past 30 years, the rate of childhood obesity has more than tripled, ending in a dramatic improve within the amount of kids with type 2 diabetes, a illness once limited to sedentary, overweight adults.

You do have the power to give your children a lifelong appreciation for pursuits that strengthen their bodies.

Follow these tips to keep your child active:

#1 Set a great example

If you want an energetic child, be active your self. Take the steps instead of the elevator and park the car farther clear of stores. Never make exercise seem like a penalization or a chore. Discover fun pursuits that the whole family can do together, like:

- Swimming
- Nature hikes
- Bike riding
- Canoeing
- Walks with the family dog
- Playing Tag
- Dancing
- Hopscotch
- Jump-rope
- Conceal & Seek

If mom and dad exercise, it's a very powerful message for a child to exercise. Additionally getting active, working out together gives you great family time. The objective is to get children moving, whatever the activity.

#2 Limit 'Screen Time'

There are a great deal of factors why children are less active today, but the biggest culprit is the tvs, followed closely by video games and computers, these pursuits encourage a sedentary way of life by limiting movement for long periods of time.

Watching television is directly related to childhood excessive weight. Children who watch much more than five hours of television a day are eight times more likely to be obese than are children who watch less than two hours of television a day.

A successful means to increase your children's activity levels is to limit the amount of hours they're allowed 'screen time' everyday. When kids are bored they find things to do.

#3 Promote Activity, not Exercise

Naturally sports and other prepared pursuits are a great way to maintain your child moving however, kids do not have to be in sports or take dance classes to be active. Every kid is wired differently. We all have certain strengths and features that permit us to do certain items better than others. Many noncompetitive pursuits are available for a youngster who isn't curious about organized athletics.

The cornerstone is to find items that your child likes to do. For example, if your youngster is artistically inclined, go on a nature hike to get leaves and rocks that your child can use to create a collage. If your youngster likes to climb, head for the nearest neighborhood jungle gymnasium or climbing wall. If your child likes to read, then walk or bike to the local area library for a manuscript.

#4 Start Young

Remember your energetic toddler? Direct that energy into a lifelong love of exercise. By incorporating exercise into our children's lives from a young age, you are setting the foundation for great fitness habits in the years to come. For instance, have your youngster show you how bunnies hop, eagles fly or dogs wag their tails.

Some other suggestions for keeping children interested:

- Play games your elementary school child loves, like tag, cops and robbers, Simon says and red light, green light. If you don't remember the rules for these games, make up your own or stroll your local library and check out a book on games.

- Let your toddlers and preschoolers see how much fun you can have while being active. Don't just run with them. Run like a gorilla. Walk like a spider. Hop like a bunny. Stretch like a cat.

- Plan your family vacations around physical activities - hiking, biking, skiing, snorkeling, swimming or camping. Take a ball or Frisbee disc to sneak in some activity asleep stops.

- Make assignments a family affair. Who can pull the most weeds out of the vegetable garden? Who can collect the most litter in the neighborhood? Have your children help shovel the snow off the driveway and use that excess snow to build a massive snow fort.

- Vary the pursuits. Let each child take a turn selecting the activity of the day or week. Batting cages, bowling and restaurant play areas all count. What counts is that you're doing something active as a family.