I remember being a kid. And some days I really miss it! But there is a big difference between kids when I grew up and kids today. When I grew up we didn’t have a play station or Wii, we didn’t have cell phones with texting capabilities, we didn’t have a gaziilion television channels and the only social network I knew of was my group of friends! My Mom had to drag me in for dinner. I would have played outside with my friends until midnight if she let me.
But today we have a generation of couch potatoes. Video games, entire television networks dedicated to kids, e-mailing, and texting are all factors in the epidemic of childhood obesity.
Another interesting factor is how competitive organized kids athletics are becoming. I hear more and more kids complain that playing organized sports is not as much fun as it used to be. The level of competition is getting higher, the parents are out of control, the Coaches’ kids get the best positions and if you don’t play tournament, you “must not be serious about your sport”.
So here are a few solutions:
1. Coach your kids!
2. Try intramural sports (usually a lot less of a commitment and a more even skill level.)
3. Work with your kids to help them get better and boost confidence.
Now here are some solutions not pertaining to organized sports:
1. Have a pickup game of basketball, a sandlot game of Baseball/softball/wiffle ball/stickball, a game of freeze tag, relay races, street hockey, flag football, etc. Some of the best sporting events of my childhood took place on the neighborhood playground!
2. Have a Family Bike ride or walk. (Encourage by example!)
3. Discuss the importance of exercise and diet with your kids.
4. Conduct group workouts.
Speaking of group workouts, if you or anyone you know is in the Philadelphia area and would be interested in a kids workout group, I would be thrilled for the opportunity to run the class. Contact me today for details.
Take care until next time!
-Diana
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