According to the American Obesity Association, “about 15.5 percent of adolescents (ages 12 to 19) and 15.3 percent of children (ages 6 to 11) are obese.” How often have you thought, “My son Timmy is so lazy; he spends too much time playing video games and eating junk food.” The problem with this thinking is yes, it might be true that Timmy is lazy and has unhealthy habits, but what are you modeling for your children? When was the last time you took a walk with your kids? What do you eat? Is Twinkie the Kid your Facebook friend?
You are in control here.
Your children may not like this approach, but you are the boss of the household. Don’t yell at them for their spot-on imitations of three-toed sloths; show them what healthy looks like. Show them what it means to be healthy. Talk to your children about the consequences of unhealthy habits. Talk to your children about the risks of Type II diabetes and heart disease. With public schools increasingly cutting fitness activities, you can no longer rely on someone else to introduce your children to the humiliation that can only be obtained from gym class kickball.
Healthy doesn’t have to be torture… planning an active vacation can be something the entire family looks forward to. If you moan and groan every time you think about working out at the gym or taking the dog for a walk you are teaching your children to hate exercise too. If you’ve been complicit in creating fat, lazy kids, don’t feel guilty, just start moving! You want the best for your children and the greatest gift you can give them is being a parent that makes healthy living a priority, Twinkie the Kid be damned!
~ j.
www.StartFloating.com
