| About 14% children and teens report... | | | | show interest in doing aerobic dances, kickboxing, |
| ...no physical activity like walking or cycling, | | | | yoga and Pilates. You could also help your child |
| everyday. This can be one of the reasons why | | | | participate in school-organized sports and activities. |
| the number of children has doubled since the early | | | | There are guidelines that should be kept in mind |
| 1970s. In 2000, 19% of children, 6 to 11 years old, | | | | when involving your child in physical activity |
| and 17%, 12 to 19 years old, are considered | | | | according to Centers for Disease Control and |
| overweight. | | | | Prevention (1997) and the Council for Physical |
| Those who are involved in physical activities, | | | | Education for Children (1998). Children should at |
| reduce the risks of developing health problems as | | | | least be physically active within 30 to 60 minutes |
| they grow older. Exercising reduces the risks of | | | | on all or most of the days of the week. Moderate |
| obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and | | | | to vigorous activity a day should last for about 10 |
| heart disease. But making your child follow a 30 | | | | to 15 minutes. Playing games and activities like |
| minute exercise video is no fun for your kid. | | | | biking, walking, running, etc. should also be included |
| There are fitness centers that have children | | | | in the child’s activities. |
| workout program, they would include biking, | | | | To encourage physical activity, make sure to |
| swimming, walking, marching, playing games to | | | | implement rules that would lead to healthier |
| introduce low, moderate and high impact aerobics | | | | lifestyle. This would include setting time for |
| and physical activity. | | | | watching television and computer games. Aside |
| Introducing children and teens to aerobics would | | | | from that, make sure that your child would be |
| help them become more active and at the same | | | | eating meals not in front of the television or |
| time, change their outlook towards the lifestyle | | | | computer. This would promote or give time for |
| they will be having as they grow old. There are | | | | parents to talk to children during meals. |
| also fitness centers which offer exercise | | | | The easiest way to teach and encourage children |
| programs suitable for children and teens, based on | | | | to exercise is to set an example. Obesity and |
| their age, skill and of course, their fitness and | | | | overweight problems are not just children health |
| personal condition. | | | | concerns, alarmingly, a lot of adults also suffer |
| There are also CDs and DVDs that mix an | | | | from these health problems. The family exercising |
| aerobic workout with dances and other fun ways. | | | | together helps the family build stronger and closer |
| Teens and older children may enjoy dancing to | | | | relationships. Aerobics would not only benefit your |
| hip-hop and modern dances. Some would also | | | | child, but the whole family as well. |