Fit in the City - Leigh Ann Root
Is Today's Child Fit for the Future?
I've been asked to speak to a group of parents about fitness for kids. I couldn't be more excited. I'm hoping for a captive audience. This is a topic I feel strongly about, even stronger now that I have a child of my own. I'm becoming increasingly concerned with the health of our youth. What'll their life expectancy be? Will they be taking even more medicine than adults currently take? Yikes! What exactly will the quality of their lives be? More importantly, what can we do, today, to make their future more hopeful and happy? It's clear that children have many challenges and obstacles when it comes to leading healthy lives. There are more processed foods, more video games, more computers, and the list goes on. But what they and their parent's also have, are choices. The choice between fast, convenient foods or healthy foods. The choice of television or quality family time. The choice of working more to make more money or working less and living more. The choice between playing outside or "playing" a video game. The choice between having an actual conversation or a conversation on the computer. So what do we do? I believe the answer is different for everyone. Each of us has unique challenges we face. I believe balance and moderation are the keys to a better quality of life for anyone, young or older. We can all strive for our children to have a healthier existence. I think most people would agree that a healthy life would include good eating habits, regular exercise, proper rest, and a positive and healthy mental attitude.
First, we must realize that children learn what they live and live what they learn. They obtain their knowledge by our example. Your actions will always speak louder than your words. I just love this quote, "What you do screams at me so loud I can't hear what you're saying." So, lecture your children all you want, but it is truly what you do that they are paying attention to. Lead with excellent examples. Here are a few other simple suggestions to help you help your children become fit inside and out:
* Nourish their physical being by feeding them whole, real foods that will give them a foundation of good eating habits. Eliminate processed sugary foods and fast foods. It's you that introduces your children to foods. Honestly they don't know the difference between a carrot or a processed cheese doodle. They'll eat what you give them and they'll want what you're eating. Let's all be honest, we do know the difference between good and bad foods. Please don't plead ignorance on this one!
*Teach your children the importance of exercise. They learn to respect their bodies and enjoy how good it feels to move. Their bodies thrive on physical activity. How do "modern day" conveniences effect our children? Consider remote controls, computers, and endless television programming, and microwaves. Today's children barely need to move to be entertained or fulfilled. How convenient has this made their bodies? If you live in the Greater Claremont Area, there's is no excuse for not exposing your children to exercise. Get them out and get them moving. There are so many ways to keep your kids moving: Tons of play grounds, lots of green space (for Frisbee throwing, running, tag, and hide-and-go-seek) , outdoor pool, indoor pool, tennis courts, basketball hoops, baseball diamonds, Arrowhead (ski, tube or hike), and Bike trails (to Newport or all around Moody Park). These activities are all at your finger tips and they're inexpensive too! You see, kid's exercise can be disguised as fun. Imagine that!
* Slow your families life down. Take it down a notch and simplify. If you're rushing around all the time, this anxiety will be passed onto your children. Pick and choose the most important activities. Spend time with your children. You can always make money, but you can never get back the time you spend away. What children need and want more than anything is your attention. Give it up!
* Think about the way you relate to others. Listen to your tone, think about what you say, and look at how your respect others. Whether it's your significant other, a family member or a stranger, your children will mirror your behavior. How you treat others is a direct reflection of how you genuinely feel about yourself. Try not to "level" the playing field by putting others down. Also, don't judge too quickly. Give people a chance.
* Feel good about yourself. Do whatever it takes to make yourself a confident and self-assured person. That's what you want your children to be, right?
* Encourage your children to dream big and reach high. Teach them that achieving a goal and the journey are equally as important. Anything worth having is worth any struggle. No dream is too big.
* Embrace and celebrate your children's individuality. Let their spirit shine the way it's supposed to. You don't want a carbon copy kid, do you? Let them be unique. Encourage them to be creative and true to themselves. Give them the space to figure out just who they are.
Being a parent is the best and biggest responsibility of my life. I don't take it lightly, nobody should. No matter what age your child is, they're still effected by you. I've found that sometimes the easy way out of a difficult situation has the bigger consequences in the long run. I try to think about how the decisions I make for my son, whether they are big or small, will effect his life. The better the foundation we build for our children, the better chance they'll have at being a strong and healthy adult. I remain optimistic that our children will grow into successful, productive and healthy individuals. Any way I can help the process along, I'm ready willing and able!
