Tackling our national obesity and related health epidemics (did I mention that I’m seriously overweight myself?) should begin with kids playing more, not with fancy weight equipment but playing games and running around parks and playgrounds.
When I was a kid, growing up in a very small town in mid-America (Tecumseh, Nebraska) in the 1950s, it was common for summer to be spent almost entirely at the local park and swimming pool. Oh, sure, some of us who were more “eggheaded” than others made regular visits to the town’s small library. But freedom to play and families who encouraged play, made Old Egghead Me the chubby exception rather than the rule.
Today’s kids have a different set up, really, especially those living in large towns and cities: In fact, it is risky to let small kids (even larger kids) roam unattended. So the playground and park time, and pool time, must be more closely supervised. But PLAY should be the key, not EXERCISE. Play is fun; exercise can be fun but also resembles work a little too much.
And don’t forget a real tool you have to combine play and exercise for today’s kids: Wii.
I don’t own a Wii, i.e., that wonderful active gaming system by Nintendo, but I can point you to a website where you can find some great discounts and offers on Wii games and Wii stuff — including such Wii games as Wii Fitness, which incorporate great physical exercise with play for kids and adults. (HINT: To find the site, just look in the footer on this page for one of our network sites devoted to Wii games and stuff.)
Whatever you choose to do, your kids AND you can overcome obesity and have fun doing it, with more play more fun, less “exercise” — oh, yeah, and probably smaller food portions!
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