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Most of what they learn is learned simply by observing, listening and mimicking. This book will become your handbook to good health and a long life. The following 10 tips are easy ways for you to teach and learn good habits from each other. For children what they learn now can equip them to better enjoy their lives, for mum and dad it means a long active life as parents, and as one day, grandparents.
EXERCISE FOR KIDS Tip 1 SET AN EXAMPLE If you are about to become parents find something you both love and do it. It may be tennis, basketball or netball. Whatever it is get involved. Whatever you do your kids will do. If you sit at home on the couch watching TV all the time that is what you can expect from your kids. But if you exercise or play a sport, then guess what, they will want to copy you. They learn to see exercise as a normal part of life not a chore.
Tip 2 LEARN FROM YOUR KIDS If you have fallen off the active lifestyle bandwagon, jump back on. Your kids may have taken up tennis or swimming, take it up as well. You’ll meet a healthy like minded group of people and be back exercising for fun before you know it.
Tip 3 MAKE IT FUN Children, and adults, for that matter can be discouraged if they are not good at something. If you have never been sporty, that does not mean you should resign yourself to a life of sitting on the couch growing fat. Run around the house, pretend to be a monkey. Kids want to move, let them have fun, make them laugh.
Tip 4 GET OUTSIDE Go for a family walk around the block each night, it is a great way to exercise, but also discuss how everyone’s day was. The kids will love it, and it gives you all a chance to reconnect after a day apart at work and school. It does not have to be much, half an hour a night is better than nothing.
Tip 5 START A ROSTER Each nigh make it one of the kids jobs to decide what form of exercise you do that night. It can be anything from playing on the wii , to seeing who can do the most push ups or sit ups. To make it easier come up with a list of things you can do, and then let them chose.
Tip 6 ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS Don’t be an ugly parent, basketball superstar Michael Jordan was once asked if he had any advice for parents helping their kids become better basketballers. His advice was to just let them play, let them learn to love the game. To be great at a sport takes dedication, you won’t get that if you push your kids, the love has to come from them, the encouragement from you.
Tip 7 JUST PLAY Do stuff kids enjoy, play catch, play chassey, have a skipping contest, play childhood games like kick the can. Introduce them to the things you did as a kid.
Tip 8 INCIDENTAL EXERCISE Count chores. You might even make it a friendly challenge. Who can pull the most weeds out of the vegetable garden? Who can dry the most dishes? Who can clean their room the fastest?
Tip 9 WALK People do not realize that in today’s society we sit longer than ever before. We drive to the station, catch the train, drive home, we hardly ever walk. Buy the family a pedometer of their own and see who takes the most steps in a day, make a chart and at the end of the month declare a family champion. It will get you all moving more.
Tip 10 LIMIT TV AND VIDEO GAME TIME Don’t let the sit in front of the TV all day playing video games. Set up a table, for each hour of video games they play they must log an hour off exercise time. Once they have enough points they can spend some time playing on the computer or TV. |
