We hear it almost daily… “American kids are fat, and do not exercise enough.” It is true I see it every day in the halls of my school, and when I go to Madilyn’s school to pick her up. Kids are larger than they were when I was a kid.
Most American kids do not exercise enough. Their lives consist of going to school, watching TV and playing video games. Hardly ever do they exercise. Some kids are very fortunate that they are able to participate in organized sports and get plenty of exercise. Many schools have cut physical education programs which is not helping the situation. My daughter goes to PE only once or twice a week. School districts have gotten blasted for sending out “fat letters” to parents. School districts have taken criticism for changing school menus to offer healthier choices. Parents need to step up and take responsibility for the health of their children. Turn off the television and video games and make them do some kind of physical activity.
As a parent it is my responsibility to teach my kids how to be the healthiest that they can be. I am always encouraging my kids to be physically active. David and I also are setting the standards with our meals by providing healthy balanced meals. I do not want my children to grow up having health problems due to inactivity and poor eating habits.
Sometimes it is hard to get my kids moving, but I am always trying. Summers are hot and humid in Georgia so getting them to play outside is always a fight. Winters can be brutally cold, which makes playing outside miserable.
Madilyn has found a new way to exercise. She has been begging for a hula hoop for months. I avoided buying one because I did not want to listen to her being frustrated at not being able to hula. Well, I finally broke down and bought her one and she LOVES it. She is a hula hooping crazy girl. First thing every morning she wants to hula hoop, and every day after school it is the first thing she does. She spends around an hour each day practicing with her hula hoop. She is getting pretty good at it.
Every lit bit of physical activity helps, and I love that she has found something that is physical that she enjoys doing.