So many children now seem to spend countless hours in front of some kind of screen whether it is a games screen, television screen, computer or gazing at the screen of their mobile phone whilst their fingers are texting madly. A result of all this lack of physical activity is sadly some very overweight youngsters. If things don’t change drastically, these children will grow into adults with a high risk of suffering from medical conditions such as becoming diabetic, suffering heart problems and other medical ailments associated with being overweight.
Mums and dads, it is up to you as responsible parents to entice your offspring away from their particular screen and encourage them to get physical. If you feel your child is possibly overweight don’t brush off things take some action. However, under no circumstances should you communicate your concern to your child as you could create further problems.
Of course in today’s modern world most parents are working and time is precious so it is convenient to put a DVD on the television for the kids to watch whilst meals are prepared, housework performed and the unending pile of laundry is attended to. Time must be made to encourage children to be more active. One of the easiest ways to do this is to make it a family affair so that keeping fit appears enjoyable and fun instead of a chore.
The whole family can take a walk to the local park, far too much time is spent by all of us sitting in our cars. A pleasant outing in the park on the swings, playing hide and seek or football is an idealistic way to unwind after a day in the office or classroom. A very enjoyable couple of hours for each member of the family and best of all – it is free and great for your fitness levels!
Another way to get some physical activity together is bike riding. This will also give you the opportunity to guarantee? your child learns some road sense, so that when they are old enough to go riding alone or with friends you know they will be safe.
Swimming is another great form of exercise and a very enjoyable pastime. Children love getting wet and jumping into pools. Although most youngsters have swimming lessons it is a fun outing to go swimming with their parents and siblings . There are fun pools with chutes and wave machines in most towns and cities, so a family day out at the weekend could be spent at one of these.
A day in the countryside walking is a pleasurable experience and if you pack a healthy picnic the kids will thoroughly enjoy it. Fresh air and making the day fun by playing simple games, such as I Spy, make this an interesting as well as an enjoyable way to get the kids (and you) off the sofa.
It is vital you watch the things your child eats and drinks. Instead of giving them sweets, crisps or biscuits as a snack try some fruit. Bananas and apples are super to snack on but do ensure your child follows a healthy diet with lots of meat, salad and vegetables. You can buy fun plates to serve a child’s meal on where it is possible to make funny faces with vegetables. If the child is introduced to a healthy diet at a young age you should be able to avoid the faddy eater point at a later date.
Lots of kids drink fizzy drinks all the time and these are of no benefit whatsoever to a growing child and in some instances can lead to tooth decay. Try introducing and explain the benefits of drinking water instead of pop.
Sweets – every child enjoys their sweets and chocolate but the key is moderation. It would be heartless to ban sweets totally from any child but just ensure they don’t overdo it.
Sleep is a major factor in ensuring your child is healthy and if a sensible diet and exercise routine are maintained, your little one should be able to sleep the night away. A child who is tired can be irritable and not want to do anything so lots of sleep is essential.
To ensure your family’s health is really taken care of, National Friendly offer a flexible approach to private health cover for all of the family. You can read more about private medical insurance here.
Enjoy playing out with the kids whilst you can – they soon grow up, leave home and become parents themselves.
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