Childhood obesity has become an epidemic. Physicians are seeing increase in children being treated for obesity and diabetes. What has lead to this? Some say it is do to an increase of inactivity leading to more unhealthy snacking. Parents have become fearful of dangers lurking outside and are too inhibited to allow their children to play outside like the children of previous generations. The children of today spend more time surfing the net, chatting for long hours online or on the phone, playing video games, and other non-physical activities. This leads to increase snacking, often junk food.
Some suggestions for parents to get kids moving is to use computer/video game time as an incentive. This way children work hard and limit their game/computer time. Save computer/game time for weekends. If parents are concerned about their children's safety then they should join them outside. Organize some neighborhood games. Find a walking trail. Talk with the physical education teacher at the local school about having a physical education family night. These are fun nights when the gym teacher can explain what is taught in each grade and parents and children can play the games and exercises that are taught in class. Walk around a mall. Organize a family field day during the summer months.
Children learn by example so parents need to be the example. Eat well yourselves and exercise. If kids don't like milk let them drink chocolate milk. Fruit snacks (those squishy things that look like gummy candy) are not considered a serving of fruit. Let children go grocery shopping with you and pick out a vegetable and a real fruit. Teach older children to prepare healthy snacks. Childhood should be fun not filled with adult health problems.
Childhood Obesity
By emogirl - Posted on October 4th, 2008
It was very interesting that the parent's fear are connect to their children's sedentary lifestyle.
I do agree with you, that inactivity and unhealthy eating leads to obesity, but disagree that inactivity leads to unhealthy eating. I also don't think that parent fear for their children's safety, so far that they would never want them outside. Most houses have an inclosed back yard, or if you are in the city there are usually parks that you can go to. I think parent use TV and video games as a substitute for real parenting, and there for kids don't know any better.
I have two parks within two blocks of my house. Great parks, with playgrounds and rec centers and tons of programming. No one uses them. There are some soccer leagues that play there, and festivals or pow wows on weekends, but as far as parents taking their kids to the park, that doesn't happen a lot. I don't think it's that parents don;t care about letting their kids play, though. My neighbor is terrified of the parks. People get shot there.
A baby was hit by a stray bullet a couple of months ago. He's okay...just hit in the leg. But there are real concerns in the city that suburbs and rural areas don't have. Beyond keeping little ones safe, an African American middle schooler who is hanging out in the park WILL be arrested on some trumped up charge, because the cops don't want anyone over ten on the street for any reason. There's a lot working against kids in urban areas.
"Never go with a hippy to a second location."
~Jack Donaghy
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman