When I was younger, my mom signed me up for what seems to me like every after-school activity in the book. Tap dance, ballet, ballroom, piano lessons, soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, and the list goes on. At the time, they were all things that I enjoyed, and it kept me busy. More importantly, I learned from it, and I got an efficient amount of exercise to keep me healthy.
My mom always told me that she wanted me to participate in these activities because it keeps me busy so I won't get into trouble. Aside from that though, it taught me to have fun dancing and playing sports. It taught me that exercise can be fun.
Get your child involved in programs and activities that will keep them moving. Signing him up for a local tee-ball team will benefit him in more ways then just one. He will get exercise, he will learn the rules of the game, and he will learn to be around and socialize with other children.
If you can not afford to sign you children up for these activities, as many people can't with rising costs and difficult times in the economy, take them to the park and play catch or get them together with some friends to play a sport. You can also check into the local churches. Most churches will play church ball once a week. It is free, and you don't have to be a member to participate.
Get your child into sports. They will have fun and get exercise without even knowing it. It will be a life-long benefit for them.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Keep Up on Your Child's Doctor Visits
My previous blogs have discussed the next generation of children and the risks, as well as some causes, of childhood obesity. Now I would like to help guide concerned parents in the right direction as to what they can do. The American Acadamy of Pediatrics suggests that you keep up on your child's doctor visits. The scheduled doctor visits for children recommended by the AAP is as follows:
- Newborns should see their doctor within three to five days after birth and within two to three days after leaving the hospital.
- Babies should be seen at age 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months.
- Toddlers should be seen at age 15 months, 18 months, 24 months, and 30 months.
- After age 3, it is recommended that your child should see their doctor once a year.
These recommendations are fit for healthy children. If your child has a health condition, your doctor may recommend that he come more often. Your doctor or insurance company may prefer a different schedule. Also, if you have not been going to scheduled doctor visits as shown above, it isn't too late to start. Pick up the phone and make an appointment.
Basically, I am suggesting that if you have children of your own, get them into the doctor, and take them in again when your doctor recommends. This way, if a problem exists or develops, the doctor can fix it before it worsens. The well-child visits (taking your child to the doctor when they are not sick) are to help parents and doctors work together to do what they can to keep children from getting a preventable health condition. The doctor may also be able to diagnose a problem, when a parent can not.
- Newborns should see their doctor within three to five days after birth and within two to three days after leaving the hospital.
- Babies should be seen at age 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months.
- Toddlers should be seen at age 15 months, 18 months, 24 months, and 30 months.
- After age 3, it is recommended that your child should see their doctor once a year.
These recommendations are fit for healthy children. If your child has a health condition, your doctor may recommend that he come more often. Your doctor or insurance company may prefer a different schedule. Also, if you have not been going to scheduled doctor visits as shown above, it isn't too late to start. Pick up the phone and make an appointment.
Basically, I am suggesting that if you have children of your own, get them into the doctor, and take them in again when your doctor recommends. This way, if a problem exists or develops, the doctor can fix it before it worsens. The well-child visits (taking your child to the doctor when they are not sick) are to help parents and doctors work together to do what they can to keep children from getting a preventable health condition. The doctor may also be able to diagnose a problem, when a parent can not.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Eat Right
I went to my younger brother's school today, and I was shocked to see that there is an entire wall of pop and candy machines. There had to be at least 8. I had heard on the news, a while back, that the schools were trying to do away with pop and candy machines, unless it contained healthy drinks and snacks.
After I had approached the candy machines to see what was in them, I could only find two things that I would consider a healthy snack: peanuts and granola bars. The rest of the machine was filled with things like candy bars, cookies, and chips.
I then looked at the pop machines. I was suprised to see a Rockstar machine full of energy drinks. There was also two pop machines, and only one of them had water. The last machine was a milk machine, and it had milk and juice.
The reason I was at the school was to take money to my brother so he could load his lunch card. When I went to school, we had lunch tickets, and if we didn't have cash in our pocket, we couldn't buy junk from the candy machines. Now schools are giving students an ID card that the parents can load periodically, and this card can be used for school lunch, pop machines, and concessions at after-school events. Students don't have to buy a healthy school lunch. Instead they can buy a pop and a candy bar and call it lunch.
How do we expect our children to eat healthy at school with this kind of a system? It's hard enough to get your child to eat healthy when he is at home and you are preparing the healthy snacks and meals for him. The schools need to set up the system, so it is easier for our children to eat healthy at school, instead of not having much to choose from except for the sugary, unhealthy snacks and drinks.
Obesity has become a major issue in America. It is easy-fix issues such as this one that are making it worse.
After I had approached the candy machines to see what was in them, I could only find two things that I would consider a healthy snack: peanuts and granola bars. The rest of the machine was filled with things like candy bars, cookies, and chips.
I then looked at the pop machines. I was suprised to see a Rockstar machine full of energy drinks. There was also two pop machines, and only one of them had water. The last machine was a milk machine, and it had milk and juice.
The reason I was at the school was to take money to my brother so he could load his lunch card. When I went to school, we had lunch tickets, and if we didn't have cash in our pocket, we couldn't buy junk from the candy machines. Now schools are giving students an ID card that the parents can load periodically, and this card can be used for school lunch, pop machines, and concessions at after-school events. Students don't have to buy a healthy school lunch. Instead they can buy a pop and a candy bar and call it lunch.
How do we expect our children to eat healthy at school with this kind of a system? It's hard enough to get your child to eat healthy when he is at home and you are preparing the healthy snacks and meals for him. The schools need to set up the system, so it is easier for our children to eat healthy at school, instead of not having much to choose from except for the sugary, unhealthy snacks and drinks.
Obesity has become a major issue in America. It is easy-fix issues such as this one that are making it worse.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
PLAY 60
Football season is here, and millions of Americans tune in to watch the NFL games. Men, women, and children of all ages watch the football games, including the commercials that go along with the games. The NFL teamed up with several partners, including Frosted Flakes, The Ad Council, and Nickelodeon to help address the obesity crisis that confronts our nation and its children.
All of the ads promote an hour of daily exercise. The NFL has named this campaign PLAY 60. Their hope is that children will see the ads, and they will "get up and play for 60 minutes a day," as recommended by The AAP and the AMA. The Public Service Announcements feature NFL players Reggie Bush, Adrian Peterson, and Santana Moss.
The NFL has also designated a website for the campaign, where you can watch the ads that appear on television. The PLAY 60 site also has fun ideas for eating healthy and ways to stay active. On the site, there is a quote from the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell. Goodell said, "We are taking the leadership role in the movement to get youngsters fit. Our players know the importance of staying healthy and it's important that young fans also understand the value of exercise. PLAY 60 is an important tool in ensuring children get their necessary daily physical activity as recommended by health and fitness experts."
All of the ads promote an hour of daily exercise. The NFL has named this campaign PLAY 60. Their hope is that children will see the ads, and they will "get up and play for 60 minutes a day," as recommended by The AAP and the AMA. The Public Service Announcements feature NFL players Reggie Bush, Adrian Peterson, and Santana Moss.
The NFL has also designated a website for the campaign, where you can watch the ads that appear on television. The PLAY 60 site also has fun ideas for eating healthy and ways to stay active. On the site, there is a quote from the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell. Goodell said, "We are taking the leadership role in the movement to get youngsters fit. Our players know the importance of staying healthy and it's important that young fans also understand the value of exercise. PLAY 60 is an important tool in ensuring children get their necessary daily physical activity as recommended by health and fitness experts."
Monday, October 20, 2008
Doc Advises Parents to Encourage Children to Get Active
Dr. Gentry Yost, a Pediatrician of Pocatello, Idaho, warns parents of the link between excessive television watching and obesity. Children are inactive and tend to snack while watching television, and they are bombarded with advertising messages that encourage them to eat unhealthy foods, such as potato chips and cookies, that often become preferred snack foods.
Some assert that not allowing your children to watch television at all is the best solution. Dr. Yost suggests a more realistic approach; limit the amount of time your child is allowed to watch television. If your child is spending less time watching television, he can be spending more time playing, and getting the daily exercise he needs. This also gives your child more time to spend with the rest of the family.
If you are struggling getting your children to get away from the television, try offering fun alternatives. Suggest that you and your child go for a walk or play catch. Other alternatives to watching television include playing outside, reading, working on crafts or hobbies, or listening and dancing to music. The possibilities for having fun without being glued to the television are endless, so turn off the television and enjoy the quality time you will have to spend with your child.
Some may feel that watching television with their child is much easier and more relaxing than playing catch or going for a walk. These people are probably those who work all day and feel that they need a minute to relax after a long day at work. Dr. Yost encourages these parents to refrain from this idea, limit the amount of television allowed in your home, and enforce an early bed time for your children.
If your children play hard during the day, they will sleep better at night, which is better for both parents and children. Research shows that children who do not get the recommended amount of sleep are at higher risk to be obese, and if your children are healthier and sleeping better at night, then so are you.
Some assert that not allowing your children to watch television at all is the best solution. Dr. Yost suggests a more realistic approach; limit the amount of time your child is allowed to watch television. If your child is spending less time watching television, he can be spending more time playing, and getting the daily exercise he needs. This also gives your child more time to spend with the rest of the family.
If you are struggling getting your children to get away from the television, try offering fun alternatives. Suggest that you and your child go for a walk or play catch. Other alternatives to watching television include playing outside, reading, working on crafts or hobbies, or listening and dancing to music. The possibilities for having fun without being glued to the television are endless, so turn off the television and enjoy the quality time you will have to spend with your child.
Some may feel that watching television with their child is much easier and more relaxing than playing catch or going for a walk. These people are probably those who work all day and feel that they need a minute to relax after a long day at work. Dr. Yost encourages these parents to refrain from this idea, limit the amount of television allowed in your home, and enforce an early bed time for your children.
If your children play hard during the day, they will sleep better at night, which is better for both parents and children. Research shows that children who do not get the recommended amount of sleep are at higher risk to be obese, and if your children are healthier and sleeping better at night, then so are you.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Obesity in our Children
"U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, MD called it the greatest threat to public health today. It kills more Americans every year than AIDS, all cancers and all accidents combined. And it's causing problems in children that were unthinkable 20 years ago." This is a quote from the Public Health department from the American Medical Association (AMA). What is this great threat? What can we do about it? More importantly, how can we protect our children?
Obesity has become a major public health issue in America. Our children are suffering from this issue as well. Consequently, the affected children are having health problems that are more commonly found in adults, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, according to Cecil B. Wilson, MD, AMA Board Chair.
As a result of this issue, the Expert Committee worked to identify treatment and prevention options to address this growing problem. The committee created 22 recommendations for health care professionals to apply in their practices. These recommendations can be found on the AMA website from the links on the left-hand side of the screen. It is important for parents to know these recommendations, so they can have a better understanding of the doctor's goals, and understanding these goals and recommendations will help parents and doctors work with the child more effectively.
Obesity has become a major public health issue in America. Our children are suffering from this issue as well. Consequently, the affected children are having health problems that are more commonly found in adults, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, according to Cecil B. Wilson, MD, AMA Board Chair.
As a result of this issue, the Expert Committee worked to identify treatment and prevention options to address this growing problem. The committee created 22 recommendations for health care professionals to apply in their practices. These recommendations can be found on the AMA website from the links on the left-hand side of the screen. It is important for parents to know these recommendations, so they can have a better understanding of the doctor's goals, and understanding these goals and recommendations will help parents and doctors work with the child more effectively.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
